The Coat
I found another garden quite by accident
just a few seconds of time in a softly falling rain
cold mist
gray overhead
gray around
ground gone gray
trees the color of rain
winter trying to linger
The world is close around
a small thing of self and others nearby
The sounds are close and small
with no distance to perceive
to distract
to disturb dreams or reality
Two dozen fifth year pupils explode from a warm classroom building
racing
dancing
dawdling
spinning
tumbling to the gym
to whatever comes next
to life
explore puddles, chill air, freedom, wet grass, mud, life
One little girl shivering in the chill, alone
gets the teacher's coat
a big, male thing
leather and fur
quickly becomes two little girls
each with one arm of the coat
each with one arm around the other
the coat has four legs and two heads
and goes racing
dancing into whatever comes next
into life