I came one place
And left behind another
One that was warm
To one that’s cold
But the funny thing
Is that here in
The cold and snow
I feel more warm
Than I ever did
When I was warmer
It’s what is inside
That counts not out
For smiles often are
Icy without the hugs
And well wishes cold
Without the caring felt
So for all those
Bandying about words of
Good cheer without meaning
Keep them for bells
Without sounds of ringing
Are just like anchors
Weighing everything else down
Oh how the nights
Are long a time
For lovers and dogs
This time dawn time
Is my absolute favorite
When both lovers and
Dogs stir one getting
Coffee and the other
Love sometimes I think
That one would prefer
To be the other
It is cold here
Here there and everywhere
It seems a time
Of reflection of gathering
Of friends and things
Of moving inward and
Away from the outside
Winter has a way
Of reminding me that
The warmest place of
All is my heart
Come friends sit near
And let our hearts
Warm each and everyone
The eastern Rockies sky
Looks like its west
A cloud bank stretches
From pane to pane
Atop which hovers delicately
Foamy white like icing
A few loose strands
Like almost invisible threads
Or perhaps even lint
Or shedded dog hair
Comes and goes as
Quickly and with little
Desire of staying like
Visitors to a hospital
And now as the
Sun makes its appearance
Low and deep all
Of it turns crimson
On this the twenty-first
Of December in Denver
So what does one
Do with all the
Dreams not yet fulfilled
When does one stop
After having lost my
Love of a lifetime
I decided to charge
Like a raging bull
Into a colosseum chock
Full of unsuspecting matador’s
Flinging them this way
And that only to
Find that I’m no
Less angry and disappointed
And now in another
New town and place
I begin to wonder
Do I put away
My horns and frustration
And simply graze contentedly
On the far forty
Acres enjoying the view
And become just one
More of the many
Put out to pasture
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 