She swallows her pride
and descends
in twirling circles,
coming down from
the pearly gates,
head still spinning
from heaven itself.


He watches her come
and waits
with jittery anticipation,
bouncing up
towards the pearly gates,
head spinning towards
heaven itself.

She skitters and lands:
puts her cold face
to his warm palm,
frozen tears melting
against the warm skin.
As she whispers, quietly,
“I’m home.”

He reaches and strokes:
puts his warm fingers
to her icy cheek,
a small smile freezing
in the winter air
as he brings the melted snowflake
to his lips, and murmurs, softly,
“I missed you.”