This is the north Dakota of my mind.
A perfect place, not that everyone is happy,
Or that bad things never happen.
But a place where all things are possible.
The extremes, the space between here and there,
And the infinite stretch above our heads.
Yes. This is the North Dakota of my mind.

A snowflake falls, and there is a warmth,
The glow of street lights bouncing off white crystals,
Yellow enveloping me like a blanket
Protecting me from the winter to come for just a brief few moments.
Looking down at the ground, covered with drifts of snow,
The anticipation to touch it, to lay in it, to spread your arms and legs
Out into the world, and back, to make a snow angel.
These feelings fill you. For a moment you are a child again,
But time is still there, looking over your shoulder,
Reminding you of the deeds you think you need to do,
The finite time you have left,
And so you continue on your way, unable to enjoy the beauty of the moment.

We often curse the cold.
We step outside and feel the knife slicing our lungs,
Icy hands squeezing our nostrils closed,
The torso compressed tightly.
Yet we do not leave. We endure.
We fight to hold onto what is ours. Why?
What is so worth fighting for that we face
The arctic without question?
And so my pursuit of North Dakota begins.

11/20/2009

Author's Note: as the title suggests, this is a potential opening of themes. i know i want more... but this is where i felt good with stopping for the moment.

Posted on 11/20/2009
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