(For Jen Simpson)
Here is a photo of the three of them:
Mother and two young daughters, sledding.
It is an impromptu outing,
Did they take a drive north from Los Angeles
and stumble upon some snow?
They are not dressed for the occasion.
In this frozen shot, there are no mittens,
no hats or parkas; sweaters only and red ears.
They are ill prepared for the cold,
Ill prepared for her sickness that is piling within,
one flake at a time,
even as they fly downhill
hanging on for dear life.
Published in Fixed & Free Anthology