Snowballs

We crouched under the elevated boardwalk
Flinching from snow-encrusted rocks
Thrown by Yupik schoolmates.

Bruises well under layers of winter clothing
Which fails to warm us. My sister and I crawl over
Ice on our hands and knees, hoping no
One else will see our rout home from school.

Alessa E. Leming is a massage therapist in Spruce Pine. She also dabbles in karate, B&W photography and writing.