The tides of winter licked the shores

of the unfinished ice on the River

reminding us that we too are incomplete,

alternatively melting or adding more frozen

dead

mass with the changing climate.

We accumulate layers of life

and time and cold pain as we move

or stay static hoping that pain dulls.

It never really lessens for long,

and it never leaves for good,

but temporary reprieves are

better than none at all.