A sweater over my sundress, with tights
All dolled up, sweeping the ashes from the fireplace
(Like Cinderella, my brain supplies, I smile)
Winter chic, with red lipstick
Nowhere to go
Nowhere I want to go
But here, bundled up, still in my tights
Though they’re torn
And my lipstick, though it’s fading
Carrying a bucket of ashes to spread in the forest
There are whitecaps on the lake today
It’s roaring
When I woke, there was snow on the roof
But it hasn’t stayed
I listen to Evermore
And mouth lyrics to the mirror
While I vacuum up the ashes from the carpet
The woodpile grows in the balcony closet
We’re building a season’s supply
For all those cold nights and stormy afternoon
And I’ll burn it all to ashes
With Love,
Natalie