Scared of ice

Don’t leave home, my mom would say.

What bigger reason could there be

than safeguarding your life

from the streets of D.C.?

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After a stormy weekend,

both mentally and physically,

the ground was covered by snow

with no intention of melting.

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How does one even get prepared?

That would be my mom’s complaint,

as if she were here to witness

the struggle we go through every day.

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“Go away, I need to continue

with my life”—but the ice won’t care,

because the minute you step outside,

it’ll make you fall as its prey.

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And from the comfort of my room,

all I can wish for is that those

who must face the ice can come

back and have their loved ones close—

---

away from the brutality

and the violence it represents,

to see so much ice on the streets

and have nobody care.

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But little by little,

the power of heat will come.

As the summer approaches—

compared to ice, so strong—

---

it will melt the snow

until streets are walkable again,

free of any fear of slipping,

free from its reign.

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And only then will we leave

the comfort of our rooms

to continue chasing

our dreams until they bloom.