Just Matter of Time

Stella gobbles food.
Outside, the sky looks freezing;
Inside, cat munches.

It's both cold and gray;
Tiny flakes of white descend.
Just matter of time.















Puddles are frozen;
Dead leaves suspended in gray;
Ice curtain on branch.











On fallen tree limb,
Pale white fungus hangs on.
Life imitates death.

Green rake lies fallen,
Face down among the dead leaves--
An Autumn soldier.

I take off my gloves
For seventeen syllables,
Then must put them on.



How many voices
Echo in this iced morning?
All inside my head.












Old gray tire lies--
Same place for a year or more;
Not rolling anywhere.