Awake

The bitter cold wind whooshes in
Into my jacket
Into my face
Into my shoes
Along my fingertips.
With each breath,
The frost bites at my lungs
Unexpectedly sharp and icy
But I’m alive
Really alive, for the first time in months
Finally awakening from my reverse-hibernation
To feel the crisp, fresh air.
Its invigorating, not stuffy or thick.
Not like inhaling a blanket of humidity
That catches heavily in my throat.
And I’m thinking faster too,
Now that I’m free of the sluggish weather and its trailing stupor.
Nature’s flush tingles down my arms
The blood rushing at an alarming rate
To flood my cheeks, toes and fingers with warmth.
Watching the trees shed the last vestiges of chlorophyll,
I see the world is changing with the seasons,
Like they were depicted
In the coloring books of my childhood.
The leaves cycle from vibrant jade to scarlet then a decaying brown,
And then wither to the earth.
The world is falling asleep, dying as time dictates.
Dying maybe, but I am finally, finally
Awake.