to save winter from its own melting
faith for as long as she can

The jars look hopeful
like the beginning of a sundae bar
rows of marshmallow fluff
until Lila adds food coloring
to watch the colors spread
in bright arteries.

Lila made a half a lifetime
of saving the unsaveable

The chilled spoon she cups
against her closed eyes
freezeframes a wonderland
a palatial glacier home
a perilous girl, blue-lipped
& skating fast on cold glass.