ROMANCE Poem: Cold Communication, by Cerridwen Moreau

my hands
I say, time and time again.
You do not notice.
You have never noticed anything.
As my body shivers, I fear you never will.

cold
I tell you, time and time again.
You do not hear.
You have never heard anything.
As my breathing shallows, I fear you never will.

my hands are cold.
I have mentioned this, time and time again.
You are interested.
You have never been interested.

how cold?
you ask me.

cold as death
I reply, my knuckles ashy.
You do not respond.
You have never responded.

cold as death.
I wait, my wrists heavy.
You do not respond.
You have once responded.

my hands, cold as death, could never be warm
I shout, my fingers numbing.
You understand.
You never understand.

why?
you ask me.

i don’t know
I lie, consumed by bitter air.
You do not help me.
You have never helped anything.

i don’t know
I insist, strangling our hope.
I do not help me.
I have never helped anything.

who would warm them?
I whisper, my darkness surrounding us.

I take a step.
I have never taken a step.

I would
you whisper.

Suddenly, I am no longer cold