Sugared Warmth

Previously published in After the Pause. 

            Warm and snug, cozy and comforting. providing

                respite from a biting chill, to frozen fingers   

              that wrap around it, glad, seeking the warmth

                characteristic of its glazed exterior, around                  aromatic cup

                which lingers the sweet delights of a sound         warm,                    of

                of saccharine rivers, a dark chocolate pond     a                                  fiery

                   melting the glacial shards of ice, a red,                                            sparks

                  amber, golden fire, whose hues conflate                                             of

                to battle the swirling winds outside, all the                                          magic

              spirals of pale snow emblazoned with motifs                                       on

               so intricate, hypnotic, like the hot whirlpool                                      a

               of sugar coated sloughs, of bubbling embers                             bitter, 

             that hiss and steam, leaving the treacly ocean,                        gelid

            entering the frozen air in many fragrant waves,                     night  

             mouthwatering, a pleasure to the visual senses                  of

            that feast on the defrosted strands of chocolate               snow 

            on a glacial night, with baleful squalls, flurries             and    

            of ice- completely defenseless when confronted     ice

            by the heat of a candied maelstrom,  inhaled in 

            cautious sips, inhaled minutes later in gulps of 

          breath, the perfect weapon against wintry nights,

         darkened coals of no more luminosity, diaphanous

          overcoats, and a mind longing for the eternal bliss

           treasured in a cup of eddying, melted chocolate