Give Until it Hurts

High rise glass flowers 
suffocate the harbor.

Winter instigates a coughing fit
with its puckered clouds, 
    cold lips.

After hours, the day sours.
A bruised sky
lost its fight, and
now must be set in a hard cast
for a long, numbing night. 

The only truth is sickness spreads,
ice on window ledge.

Dull toothache December,
a cruel reminder,
covered up by carolers,
fresh fruit wreaths on video-monitored 
   front doors.

Cold sore suburbia
with its fine cheese spreads
  and fake glittery snow.

Down the road,
a tent flap hangs closed.
Huddled strangers 
get their first pin pricks, 
   of cold.
Frost bit, but full of hope
that a little warmth can halt the hypothermia.

©2023 | K.F. Hartless

5 responses to “Give Until it Hurts”

John

Wonderful, so in tune with the season and a crazy world.

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1. K.F. Hartless
  
  Thank you, John. I was visiting the first capita and stayed penning these lines. Didn’t finish them until I was back here so they sort of blend both places.
  
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  1. John
    
    You’re welcome. ☺️
    
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Michele Lee

“Dull toothache December”
Sans the pain, what a creative phrase! Among others. Happy holidays to you and your family, K. 🌹

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K.F. Hartless

Thank you, kindly, Michelle. I’ve been traveling and sort of letting my mind rest. I think the end of year is really a necessary shut off period for me. I hope you are all ready for those first Christmases in your family. How exciting. Happy holidays, dear friend. 💜

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