The smells of everything
we remember
from before
the hard coldness
of the ground
came to claim our feet
for socks and boots
​and made our stiff fingers
fumble constantly
​with coat buttons & zips

​come back,
slowly, from the ground,
fighting
the snow and frozen soil
to claim
the little bit of sun
coming again to free us
​and bringing gifts
​of wet grass smells
and dry pavement smells
and even early morning
​traffic smells and

we feel (suddenly!)
​what it will be like
​to wear less
in a few months.
Our hearts bounce forward
towards sun-memories
​and thanks that winter is mortal too.