i pine for winter.
everyone secluded
in their own homes,
streets barren
the flick of snow
under street lamps.
no one out
& about. no one nude
or vulnerable.
ice choking
the sidewalks
snowmen half built.
i detest the flowering
of fireworks.
the slick rubbing of
swim trunks.
sand castles.
the churn of old grass.
neighbors & bonfires.
front doors
kept open.
lakes being free
& alive.
the color green.
the heat. pop-up
ice cream shops
& water guns.
air conditioners.
kids, splashing
each other
at a wishing fountain.
a person
alone at night
along the side
of a road,
blonde hair swaying
in the breeze.
everyone secluded
in their own homes,
streets barren
the flick of snow
under street lamps.
no one out
& about. no one nude
or vulnerable.
ice choking
the sidewalks
snowmen half built.
i detest the flowering
of fireworks.
the slick rubbing of
swim trunks.
sand castles.
the churn of old grass.
neighbors & bonfires.
front doors
kept open.
lakes being free
& alive.
the color green.
the heat. pop-up
ice cream shops
& water guns.
air conditioners.
kids, splashing
each other
at a wishing fountain.
a person
alone at night
along the side
of a road,
blonde hair swaying
in the breeze.
Lukas Ray Hall, born & raised near the Twin Cities, holds an MFA from Pacific University. His debut collection, loudest when startled, will be published by YesYes Books in 2020. His poems have appeared in The Florida Review, Moon City Review, Atlanta Review & Raleigh Review, among others. He currently lives in St. Paul, MN. Twitter, IG & FB: @lukasrayhall, lukasrayhall.com.