Tethered

Winter's leash; anchors home
Open water stands alone
Missing me, not knowing why
Lashing back its salty cry

Frost-encrusted docks weep ice
Arctic tears for season's price
Vessels wrapped; no longer free
Dry-dock chains that tether me

Molting

I shed the night
of the longest day
as strands
of darkness
remain

in clumps
of matted remorse