Ivan Jenson

Winter Warning

If you think
you have all
the tools necessary
to never succumb
to the elements
or the offhand comments
or the slap in the face
random acts
of poetic justice
that come at you
like forced kindness
in lieu of true loveliness
then allow me
to clap back
and pull the rug
out of your smug
conceit where
you feel that confidence
alone is enough
to weather
gathering storms…
all I’m saying
in everything
I just wrote
is that hey, it’s cold
out there
at least
please put on
your emotional
winter coat