a charming assortment of needs and knives (poetry)

The snow’s falling red

on a paperwhite forest

and the Winterman comes for

sable-haired girls

with moonlight in their eyes

                                           useless as sparrows

the Winterman waits

by a green river rising

with a bone in his heart

                                          and a charming assortment of needs and 

knives

the Winterman comes

for sorority girls, laughing and prancing

charm bracelets jangling (the sound of a Trust fund)   

ponytailed bygones,  

                                              useless as sandals

the Winterman waits for crystal cold nights 

when the snow falls red on 

on the faces of sable-haired girls

                                              useless as sin

and the Winterman came

for their skin turning blue

the same color as the moon in their eyes.

^{edited by etouffee}