the gaze of a stranger

sweeps over my flesh

at the sight of my hair,

she stops.

the moment hangs...

we inhale, both in preperation--

the woman gushes her admiration,

blinking in awe of the light on my skin.

she waits not

for a thank you

for a hello

for a and-you-are?

but is whisked away on her breathless adventure

through the doors that open to her,

that I'd never bother the handles of.

at least her words keep me warm at night

when my glassy-eyed breath is suddenly shattered

and the hot salt water sizzles my cheeks.