February

I threw your keys in the water, I looked back

They'd frozen halfway down in the ice

They froze up so quickly, the keys and their owners

Even after the anger, it all turned silent and

The everyday turned solitary

So we came to February

First we forgot where we planted those bulbs last year

Then we forgot that we'd planted at all

Then we forgot what plants are altogether

And I blamed you for my freezing and forgetting and

The nights were long and cold and scary

Can we live through February ?

You know I think Christmas was a long red glare

Shot up like a warning, we gave presents without cards

And then the snow

And then the snow came, we were always out shovelling

And we'd drop to sleep exhausted

And we'd wake up and it's snowing

And February was so long that it lasted into March

And found us walking a path alone together

You stopped and pointed and you said "that's a crocus"

And I said "what's a crocus ?" and you said "it's a flower"

I tried to remember but I said "what's a flower ?"

You said "I still love you"

The leaves were turning as we drove to the hardware store

My new lover made me keys to the house

And when we got home, well we just started chopping wood

Because you never know how next year will be

And we'll gather all our arms can carry

I have lost to February