American Spirits in the December Snow

American Spirits in the December Snow

Dale Walker

Undergraduate /Undeclared

i walked back slowly, as if dreaming

on the snow-covered concrete

breathing in each unimagined breath

as the air stilled.

flowers sagged over the terraces

my eyes trav'ling over the girls

walking ahead

i just lit my second cigarette

while thinking, 'How will I feed myself

When I am old?'

and i know

as the nicotine numbs my lips that it's all a long time coming.

we don't love individually;

it's a sweetened cycle,

a long goodbye,

a whispered word,

a lonely night. i champion the hill, my legs burning like hell

the inside of my mouth like sand.

the sun sets reluctantly,

and the rain paints the sky with words i could never write;

words i could never understand.