Cotten Sheets in Winter

I am small and alone here

Arms wrapped tight against myself

Still it steals my warmth

My flesh electric

Pained & aware

Every nerve standing at attention

A blanket of frozen air

Like a sea surrounding me

My bones ache

Not strong enough

To fight the chill

I am small and cold here

No friction

Save for the crisp bite of cotton

Stinging against my nakedness

To move an inch

Means to start over

A shock to my system

Stealing breath

The sound of my own voice

A stranger to my ears

Slowly, the valley warms

Hot spots on the mountain

Of memory-laiden quilts

I call shelter

I am so small

In a bed way too big

To face these January nights

Alone.

NH

2014