When the leaves turn colors

and begin to fall

and the earth turns hard beneath my feet

each winter

I bury my aspirations

until they thaw in the spring

when being vulnerable

is socially acceptable

and at least if they get wet

I can hang them out to dry in no time

beneath the sun’s rays.

But I have decided

that no burial is needed this Autumn

because I’m counting on these aspirations

to keep me warm

all winter long.