Matthew Caretti

To Be Warm

Her emails are tepid. From the Latin “tepidus,” of “tepere” or “be warm.” An equivocal word. A word of nuance, as it denotes neither cool nor warm. To define it in English, an adverb must be inserted – slightly warm. And to that another – only slightly warm.

This follows with the connotations as well. Neither enthusiastic nor unenthused. Just “showing little enthusiasm.” But slightly, only and little modify. They create space. Hope. Possibility.

in the marrow
of the frozen moon
spring