{"product_id":"march-the-fog-line-simon-a-thalmann-9798316304745","title":"March (The Fog Line)","description":"\u003ci\u003eMarch (The Fog Line)\u003c\/i\u003e collects 101 poems written in March 2020 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, many of them drafted as the first COVID restrictions began taking effect at the start of the pandemic. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlmost Spring\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt's almost spring: A sudden green\u003cbr\u003ereplaced the hills of blackened snow, \u003cbr\u003eas overnight the sun-built strength\u003cbr\u003eof dawn arrived to grow and burn. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe cold dissolved into a breeze\u003cbr\u003ewarm enough to keep the windows\u003cbr\u003eopen morning-wide, the glass panes raised\u003cbr\u003efor early bird-song screens. We know: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWinter is a patient close to death, \u003cbr\u003ewaiting for that final shallow breath\u003cbr\u003ewhen the dying finally stops, and tears\u003cbr\u003edrop dead eyes clear to cloudless skies. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eMinefield\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe driveway is a minefield\u003cbr\u003eof worms to the mailbox, \u003cbr\u003eand I'm skipping like a kid\u003cbr\u003eplaying hopscotch on recess, \u003cbr\u003edodging the lines in the rain.\u003cbr\u003eIt was supposed to be sixty\u003cbr\u003edegrees and then storm, but\u003cbr\u003eI think we went straight for\u003cbr\u003ethe storm, skipped the sixty.\u003cbr\u003eIt's still almost cold and so\u003cbr\u003ewet, everything pooling or\u003cbr\u003edripping with water. I open\u003cbr\u003ethe box and it's empty, \u003cbr\u003emy hand damp and cold from\u003cbr\u003ethe door. I wipe it on my\u003cbr\u003ejeans and retreat, tiptoeing\u003cbr\u003eback past the worms to the\u003cbr\u003esafety and quarantined\u003cbr\u003etrenches of home. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarch Madness\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA cloud descends over the month\u003cbr\u003eand stays, the days all grays and whites\u003cbr\u003ewithout a silver lining. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIndifference rising, it hangs like a fog\u003cbr\u003eover half-frozen fields, \u003cbr\u003eslicks skin, mucks minds. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTime fades; this March is madness. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eApathetic sadness floods like melting snow\u003cbr\u003ewhile panicked masses rock in place, \u003cbr\u003etogether keeping pace alone. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMistakes were made\u003cbr\u003eand it's too late to fix them. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFaith fades like frost soaking the worsted, \u003cbr\u003eworn by the wise against false spring. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAnyone\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eI can't see you when\u003cbr\u003eI close my eyes\u003cbr\u003eanymore. You're like\u003cbr\u003ea ghost\u003cbr\u003erepeating a routine, \u003cbr\u003elooping my room\u003cbr\u003ein steps you never\u003cbr\u003ereally took.\u003cbr\u003eI can't hear you, \u003cbr\u003eyour lost echo\u003cbr\u003eof a voice. When\u003cbr\u003eI close my eyes, \u003cbr\u003eyour face is just\u003cbr\u003ea glimpse of teeth\u003cbr\u003esmiling, but\u003cbr\u003eI can't remember\u003cbr\u003ewhat that looks like\u003cbr\u003eeither.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Simon A. Thalmann\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798316304745\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/31\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 116\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.36lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.24d","brand":"Simon A. Thalmann","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48851198247167,"sku":"9798316304745","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/march-the-fog-line-simon-a-thalmann-9798316304745","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}