I hope you never read this

frozen lake

sheets of ice crashing on the rocks

half-hearted smile

telling me to jump in

the church is warm

darker than bright

and painted figures dance across my mind

the truth boils

it nearly claws its way out

on a train headed west? south? east…

sometimes I can’t remember where I’m going

a small spark

and it’s hard to tell if it’s the strawberry ice cream that’s bittersweet