Just doing things 
the normal things 
of daily life 
moving through rooms 
listening to music 
and drinking coffee 
checking the skies 
looking for snow 
and seeing none 
decide to go 
on with the 
quiet peaceful cadence 
of a drum
long gone silent 

The kitchen lights 
are calling me 
I hear their 
whining under door 
like the snout
of anxious dogs 
sniffing and saying 
you awake yet 
it’s time to 
start and percolate 
to wander around 
it’s so late 

The mountains 
as if
being swallowed 
by rosy
red lips
and pale
blue eyes 
looking wide
eyed down 
in amazement 

Sugar plums and 
nutcrackers have gone 
back to bed 
tucked away in 
attic or closet 
or under beds
for another year 
no more caroling
just the crunch
underfoot of ice’s
very own snare
the winter wonderland 
with its snow 
and frosty chill
and breaths frozen
clouds in place 

No one sees
growth or progress 
they don’t witness 
struggle or loss
they might see
failure and despair
awaiting one’s demise 
but all anyone 
ever sees really 
is the shadow 
shedding of a 
life once lived 
personal triumph in 
the face of 
tragedy remains secret