It had been chilly
for the past couple of mornings
and today seemed cooler still.
So, for the first time this season
I put my coat and hat on –
to go forth.
I opened the door
and felt the soft kiss
of a breeze caress my face.
The morning air was indeed brisk
but at first I did not recognize –
what it meant.
And then I realized
that this is the day this year
the first morning of actual cold.
As I exhaled and saw my frosty mist,
my heart gladdened, eagerly my step quickened –
breath is here.
Unaware of the occasion
dad was at the kitchen table
eating his breakfast cereal.
Heartily, I burst in
barely able to contain my joy –
winter is.
Warming to the task, he got up
and said let’s do it
we went outside and bowed to each other
and then exhaled in unison
as our mystic breath commingled we enjoined –
“Hello, breath”
We stopped and shared the moment
getting ready to make friends warm
a kind of smelling the flowers.
We smiled in heartfelt gratitude
for each other and for the cold –
and for breath.
