Winter Solstice

Have you ever driven at warp speed
down the highway on a New England winter night
when the snow is falling steadily
like your expectations,

and the stars
in front of your command center
could not be further from your command,

and you notice the way they rush you
and you notice the way they are repelled by you
like she was,

and have you ever seen the stars alone at night in New England in the winter
and thought they looked like snow
about to fall
like flakes frozen in the motion of intention,

and did you notice how cold they were
and did you notice how white
and did you think of her,

and have you ever lived until this moment
on a New England winter night
when you realize that the world is backwards
and maybe it’s not just you?

First Place Winner in the Acton Public Library's 29th Annual Poetry Competition