Sledge

In the warmest December of their long history

he gave her a sledge

as red as Christmas itself

it waited in the hallway

along with the snowballing gloves

and the sleet defying hat

for the snow that never came.

It shone through a January of drizzle

through February’s fog

until the snowdrops pushed out their plucky heads

until the daffodils frilled out into Spring.

I…