The day was bitter cold
As I walked home
From school

To get my mittens that I 
Forgot because my 
Teacher made me 
Go and get them

The earth’s ice carapace 
Cracked beneath
My feet

And my fingers froze
Brittle as twigs

But the lesson that I learned
Came later––in loving 
You––how forgetting

To cover up against 
The cold
 . . . can hurt.