Ice sheathes the earth.

A crystal illusion, held

by surface tension

(like wedding rings).

At first, sliding along, it insisted so clearly.

The tension did.

The slide so smooth, so quick,

you barely noticed.

But Time.

Time, entropy, and the errant molecule.

The center may hold, but at the edges

molecules break free. They rebel. They elope.

(New bonds are formed.)

Ice evaporates.