I threw your keys in the waterI looked back
Theyd frozen halfway down in the ice.
They froze up so quicklythe keys and their owners
Even after the angerit all turned silentand
The everyday turned solitary
So we came to february.
First we forgot where wed planted those bulbs last year
Then we forgot that wed 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 warningwe gave presents without cards
And then the snow
And then the snow camewe were always out shoveling
And wed drop to sleep exhausted
Then wed wake upand 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’thats a crocus’
And I said’whats a crocus? ’ and you said’its a flower’
I tried to rememberbut I said’whats 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 homewell we just started chopping wood
Because you never know how next year will be
And well gather all our arms can carry
I have lost to february.