HYPOTHERMIA

A body found in the snow

is brought to the hospital.

Tubes are inserted

running warm water

through its core.

Prayers are said

as tears fall.

Fond memories of a life assumed

are recalled in painstaking detail.

Missed opportunities are sworn

never to pass by again.

A faint pulse returns.

A flicker of life raises hope.

In an exhausting amount of time

the crisis passes.

One by one a thousand cold orange dots wave

from across the dark valley.