Frozen Sunrise

thunder above, lake below

Sunrise 6 February 2026 Montreal — photo by the poet

I had to warm up my car
as the sun rose and the sky
began to saturate.
Being cold and having slept poorly,
my mood was icy and angry
and ready for movement.

As I aimed my crusted car
onto the gray and white street—
the white snow and gray ice—
the dilemma of my destiny
weighed on me, and the affections
of my life warmed the car.

The carefree days of summer 
seemed like an improbable
fictional fantasy.
But when I began to see the sun
like my child's head peeking out from
memory, I felt peace.

When I stepped onto the ice
so solid beneath my feet,
I knew my path was clear
and that I would follow where it led.
The ice would melt and I would float
all the way to the sea.

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