Cold Hearted

steps crunch into snow
disrupting the silence of a world weighed down by cold
and exhaled frosty breath lingers in the air
like the icy ghost of a last kiss
before disappearing without a goodbye

Fortitude

Rolled out like a welcome mat
I let you in without thinking-
didn’t realize that with each step you took/
I would shrink.
Now your footsteps are
etched like a tattoo along the memory of my spine/
and I’ve struggled to shrug
your weight off my shoulders
but finally
I am starting to straighten
stacking vertebrae
on top of vertebrae on top of vertebrae
like the stones of a fortress wall
so you’ll never walk over me again.

Jaimee Boake

Having long been fascinated with reading and writing of all forms, Jaimee Boake is a high school English Language Arts, Creative Writing, and Leadership teacher in Sherwood Park, Alberta. 

When not working she loves playing sports and board games, hanging out with her dogs, spending time with family, and drinking lots of coffee. 

She is happiest, always, in the mountains. More of her work can be found in Purple Fire Publications Write Connection Magazine. Instagram: @jaimeeannethology 

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