I am thawed. Deep
in winter, I am warm
for Emily

& she knows that.
The sky stays stark
& she knows that

as well. I am thawed
& I still invite her
to walk across me.

She prefers the shore
most days.
I can only be the lake

& most of my invitations
aren’t landscape.
I am blue

stretched out
& I wait for her heel
to decide the season.

Darren C. Demaree is the author of eight poetry collections, most recently “Two Towns Over”, which was selected the winner of the Louise Bogan Award from Trio House Press.  He is the Managing Editor of the Best of the Net Anthology and Ovenbird Poetry.  He is currently living in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and children.