23 days before winter (or Dawn is Dead)

You might expect the night to be like this

merciless,
swallowing you whole

then the dawn comes
and she's
cold and pallid
no pulse

somehow you're surprised
when
you poke her
hoping for a quiver
but she doesn't move

nothing rises
nothing grows

begging for a break
you lie down beside her

curled up, a question mark

but it's all no good

give it up son,
she won't see you anymore

you, like her

dead

til

spring

comes