High Street

“do you want a ciggy?”

it’s cold and the heater above us sends down waves

nestle under the heater to keep warm

imaginary sun

red hot oven burner dripping wet hot snow on us

rain in Florida is ever so sweet like that

warm drops of tea

of mulled wine

it’s sweet and bitter at once

warm and everyone around me laughs

with bright pink cheeks 

the cold and hot air mingling

I walked with her

hand in hand along the street

peering in store windows

cigarette and lollipop  

skipping without a care down the road lined with perfect flat square stones

your hand is warm and cold all at once

my scarf is misted with rain

the pub is stacked with laughing people

one on top of the other like so many books

rowdy with their tongues lolling out jumping off the stack

I’ve got so much energy I could do jumping jacks

jumping on feet numb from the cold wind

old books are stacked by the table

precariously

stacked

books

eating

time

we’re wrapping them with ribbons

putting them in sandwiches

devouring knowledge

sacrifices to the people-devouring kings

she’s on a phone call and I want to kiss her pink cheeks

flushed and a little swollen from the cold

I know they’re warm even in the cold

she’s laughing on the phone 

so carefree no one I’ve met has ever been this carefree

it must be the joy of being in a new city

a city filled with no one you know

a city whose every shop is a true surprise

a city who opens its arms to you

a city in which we are new, whole

we continue arm in arm and then there is a rainbow

a rainbow on the wall

a mural

and a little girl with hair falling in little midnight springs is laughing

her skin all golden-brown and pink and dappled

like light under a hazelnut tree

we are all childlike and laughing

our love is pure that night

holding hands again under the neon lights

crossing a crosswalk painted with pride flag colors

lighting our cigarettes and our faces