December

1

Sunshine on hoarfrost: one true winter day
After a whole year's cloudbursts, hurricane, drizzle
Puddles on flowerbeds, the well-drained marsh a bog,

It's advertisers' Advent. GLOBAL WARNING
Where flood water creeps or sweeps, tall trees crashed down.

Outside this window residual birds are fed
Imported peanuts, packaged grain, assorted.
Rats have gnawed through
Another's hardwood frame
To raid the apple store
As if no glut of fallen apples lay
On the rats' playground larger than room or house.
Or was it a squirrel so deregulated?
Those frames had lasted since the walls were built.

All's mending now not making.
...