I keep forgetting the month

because its February

but it feels like May

I drive through the perfect sunlight

and people are out

walking in shorts

I keep waiting to wake up to snow

and have a handful of times

in the last many months

but it melts by midday

and then it’s warm enough

to open the windows

I keep waiting for winter to arrive

but it’s so late

even the hardware store

has put away the shovels

and the snowblower display

and is selling

early season flowers

I wake up

and go stand in the dead grass

in a t-shirt

and I am not cold

there are no clouds in the sky

no chill on the breeze

there are birds in the trees

no sign of snow anywhere

who knew even ruin

would be so beautiful

Alexander Shalom Joseph is an award-winning poet, writer and playwright from Gilpin County, and is the author of seven published books. You can find his work and more  information about him at  alexandershalomjoseph.com.