Some dress in layers for the cold:
sweat-absorbing long johns, tee shirt, two
pairs of socks, thick pants, sweater, vest,
jacket, gloves, mittens, toque, and boots.
Some slide into a winter snowsuit
over regular clothes, add winter boots
and mittens, parka hood, and even ski mask.
Little kids, who require adult assistance,
(or a teacher who dresses twenty-five),
the boots, scarves, mittens and snowsuits
take time and patience, especially when
the kid has to pee just after the door opens.
But when sap stirs, and blossoms sprout
especially in latter spring days, then
we learn which young thing sports a new
navel ring, and in general, what pale fresh
radiant unfamiliar skin looks like.
Legs, arms, muscles, cleavages appear, fresh
intrigues blossom, and the young
learn a fresh respect for the back
seats of cars. Then everything opens up.
