Thirty-Seven Point Nine Words

They say there’s forty words for snow.
None, though
for thirty-seven point nine degrees
of Celsius.

The flip-flop of doubt as sandals melt,
not into tar, as they are wont,
but onto concrete sidewalks, floating
sideways into slow repose as strangers
chatter into iced cafés, pile up
in tales of wilt and pushing fluids
(Getting old is hell, says Alan,
shouldering his laptop,
don’t get old.)

Time closes.
Sprinklers at 346 go on  
and here at thirty-seven odd degrees,
headlights shine through the mists in flowing
goldfish tails that once, impossibly,
were arctic snow.
 
Oh, no,
this won’t get old.

Image: K. Bischoping.