My fingers are cold.
It's been a long time since
solace has found me in the woods
wandering with palms turned up
turning brown dead leaves crunch
leaving my countenance soft
leaving bread-crumbs of prayers
scattered on the forest floor for future spring-time flowers.
My fingers are warm.
It's been a long time since
solace has found me
over a steaming pot
of family tradition
welcoming vows with palms turned down
ancestral spirits living in steam.