The Last Night of Winter - Mia Doi Todd

Thanks for your letter.

It made me feel better.

I was down

And it gave me a lift;

appeared the Goodyear blimp

The tree out your window is covered in pink snow

You put a few blossoms in the envelope.

I didn’t know

Now on the sidewalk, outside my p.o.

Box, I’m a parade

I’m confetti of fuschia hearts.

We are never really apart

You dreamed of me the last night of summer

You dreamed of me the last night of summer

You were coming.

I was leaving.

We met in the harbor

Where whaling ships dock.

We threw some rocks

Everyone wanted you.

I was not immune to the fever

That overtook the cast and crew.

I couldn’t get to you

But I had a secret, a torch to give you.

I stole an hour

Or two to share the fruit I grew with you

I dreamed of you the last night of winter

I dreamed of you the last night of winter

(Hidden treasure, buried long ago, of immeasurable gold

I’m drawing a map, connecting the dots, fusing the past to the present.)

I must always remember our moments together

And believe in magic.

It exists just beneath the surface

New York City thinks it knows everything.

The buildings

The people threaten to crush your body, your mind, your soul

But you keep writing, and i’ll keep writing, and one day

The story will be told.

All our oysters will unfold

You dreamed of me the last night of summer

I’ll dream of you the last night of winter