by Hank Hyena

when the blizzard drove the mercury to 60 below --
when eagles fell frozen out of the sky
when our furnace cracked -- yikes!

I was glad you were chubby then -- we put our bed by the fireplace --
we burned our furniture, the truck upholstery & the handles of tools
It took me 45 minutes to defecate, my hands were shaking too hard to wipe

I was glad you were chubby then -- you laid on top of me
& I gripped you like a baby under a giant breast
I cried over & over again that I would always love you

you stuck your hands in my sweaty crotch -- the only spot where I'm always warm
you said, "this is so romantic -- we're saving each others lives!"

the rescue team spent 90 minutes uncoiling our frozen bodies --
they thawed our noses apart with a candle
when they pulled you away I felt like I had lost my ribcage

we made enough money in the cannery that season
to move away from the glaciers & tundra
we bought a hut in the Hawaiian jungle
we sold Mauia-Wowie marijuana to tourists

our new life was mangoes & sandals & the eternal summer
but the heat made us hate each other -- our love rotted in the sun
my damp groin smelled like a compost pile
you grew fatter than a Polynesian Queen

I said you were a walrus in a bikini
you said my crotch made you puke

you bought a ticket back to the Arctic Circle --
you said we were dancing lights there
but in the tropics: we're just grumpy icebergs --
you said Paradise is where people need each other
you begged me to join you
but I didn't even take off my sunglasses when I kissed you goodbye

I stayed in the islands with the skinny girls & the tall green hemp
until I got busted & sent to the mainland

10 years later -- I miss you!
Last Christmas I rolled around in the snow until the pain woke me up
I took out your letter then --
the photo of your new family in Fairbanks
your husband Rene & five children

everybody's gathered together in the photo except you --
you're off to the side with your arms around a snowman
& on the back of the card -- you say -- the snowman is -- me