so gently it comes
so gently it comes

bringing winter
no matter the season

in the night
it poaches hair

in the night
it poaches nails

leaves behind
a barren beauty

livid kisses
pickled skin

if our bones
were light enough

like the hawk
we'd soar to meet it

even share
a dance or two

so gently it comes
so gently it comes

Cover Photo: Operation Ivy, KING Event, Enewetak Atoll, Nov. 15, 1952 (U.S. Dept. of Energy/Wikimedia Commons)