Jeffrey Alfier

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The Woman in the Dark Sweater
 
Her green bedroll and brown
suitcase slumped in a nearby
corner. Her hands clutched
a heady cup of black coffee.
 
Cool wind and early light
riddled the strands of hair
loosened about her face.
The day had yet to warm.
 
With arms tucked against
the chill, she remembered
how, winters past, her mother
would say, your neck’s so cold.
 
In the café windowpane,
her blue eyes came back
gray, the cooling cup
sunk entirely in light.