winter wishes

By gaslight I sit by the lake // watching the dark web of the water glow // under the ghost of a crescent moon // a catfish floats slowly by with // gills and whiskers afire

The vape // of a cold winter dawn // jabs at my frozen face an // unlabeled reminder // to leave behind my youth // and step into the role that they // baptized for me long ago

I am biased // towards staying a child // just a little longer // until I figure out // how to start adulting // assuming the responsibilities // that are held to my head // their finger on the trigger