dress code

I offer an out-of-season weather poem, based on a first line I found in notes for an older version of this poem. Stay warm and dry, friends.

I dress myself with rain,
shape a hat out of clouds,
make a scarf of the wind,

wrap myself in a coat
of many shadows—
with pockets of light

I know it’s winter—
the frost clings to the
windows like star shine

the low-riding sun slings
its rays across the room,
igniting the dust of hope

that hangs in the air inside,
where I am: caught up
in the weather of my heart

so I dress myself with rain
shape a hat out of clouds,
make a scarf of the wind . . .

Peace,
Milton