Winter Charm

In the summer I have this friend who I am closest to,

and sometimes, in the winter,

I long to call her up and say,

come here and live with me, in this cold place.

But we are summer friends.

There is a rule it seems,

that summer friends don't get together in the wintertime.

Now, sitting here, waiting for her,

I realize that I have never seen her in a winter coat,

and for some reason that makes me sadder than anything else in the world.

~ Jacqueline Woodson