15,911. SOMETIMES I FREEZE

SOMETIMES I FREEZE

Often when it's late, and in the middle

of the night, I sit up, looking out, instead

of sleeping. The night throws funny lashes 

over tired eyes, and sometimes I freeze too.

Maybe the fire is gone down, or out. Or I

just don't feel like getting up again to tend

it. The cinders, glowing red, will hold for

6am, when I can start the whole routine

again. I stare out and count all my mistakes,

or watch the lowly wind start rustling all

the branches once again. Then, eventually,

the east-light begins breaking in, and can 

sort new light from the old : pink sky, a

cluster of reddish clouds, something gray 

and scuttling across the sky. Wind and

weather, they always bring something;

but let's keep the snow away. OK?