First Snow

When I die

I wake up in snow

and cars like sleeping animals

line the block, barely breathing

and everything is covered

in the same thing all at once
for the first time

but I can’t tell if that same thing
is snow or the sound of snow

falling

I shave my head and shut my eyes

I paint my body white
so I can’t even be seen out there

I take off my shoes
and my feet cross the snow soundless,
like tongues licking envelopes

Then street lamps

catch like matches, then

everything is waking up in snow


— 2010