Went, weary and wheezing, wary / frigid / frozen.
Closed.
Wrapped round, to shield the gale.
Was revealed, then, those --
kept inside them mucked in plaque and tar
without the ember, were so cold
the lines found ends and with-died means
to rest already dead ideas
come a cold upon the soil and cracked the mud 'neath boot tread to dust
baked tan cake and stone and dry talc that holds form but crumbles under caress