Mikaela Castledine #119 Instructions

Take the woollen lofted quilt

out from the bag and box in which it came

it was cold this morning for the first time

since the early part of last year's spring

find the matching coverlets and cases

be calm about your business with the corners

shake with firm attention until all is square

revive the fibres which have been compressed

let it fill with insulating air

wait until the darkness drops and the degrees

then lift the comforter to climb in under

Was thinking of an old poem of mine as I made the bed this morning...

I Feel The Cold

I feel the cold like metal

does

like metal feels it

colder quicker

than wood or earth or stone

colder than the air that brings it

all the tiny atoms

stilling their vibrations

into a chimeless matrix

I feel the cold like that

and when heat is applied

it runs through like a current

from here to there

dissipates into the air

leaves me with nothing

put your cold hand

the one outside the quilt

holding the book

onto the thermal mass

of your inner thigh

and tell me

which do you feel

the warmth flowing into frozen flesh

or the burning five fingered brand

recoiling from your own self

I feel the cold like that