Frost greets us —
silver gift, celebrated
by morning birds —
singular recipe —
beauty, severity

Much as the early chill
made luscious the warmth of covers
and each other’s bodies,
though soon, work demanded
that we rise

The climbing sun brings warmth,
first in its radiance,
later in the winds
which started frigid
but soon were balmy

Tonight we’ll drain the pipes
against the freeze,
the crescent moon will set,
the stars will send their cold light down,
tomorrow we’ll await
the same steep curves,
seasoned by season’s turn,
well met in grace.

©Wendy Mulhern
October 14, 2018