Lost on my father’s sky gray patio
He tossed a cup of stale pine needles
From the dying Christmas tree
Into the rusting fire pit
Extinguishing it
Coughing
The damp smoke scooped me up
Set me down between your legs
And brought me back to the cold
With a mouthful of your memory
Coughing
Stepping back
My cheeks flushed with a ghost
Your rose glow holding my face, warm,
While the blue spruce smoke rearranged me
On my father’s sky gray patio