Late in the drizzly night
we walked past puddles
while nearly bare November trees
glowed slick in the streetlights

We talked of ascension,
of hopes and struggles,
of resolutions versus being present,
our boots familiar with the dark streets

It had been sunny earlier
but we missed that window,
brief as it was in these
end of year days

It was good, finally,
to rally against darkness
and the onset of rain
to drag ourselves from early sleep
to amble on our customary rounds,
to talk and find our solid common ground.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 26, 2016