But winter is chilling

Breath shows in clouds
Face masks hide the mouths
Of the children

Frozen fingers tap
On the icy pond
As a skater leaves an etch

On the park bench sits a man
One legged underneath
A tent like coat

Scattered crumbs of bread
Sit atop green grass spikes
A crow leans down to peck one

Winter abhors waste
Hard soil does not give way
To human need or hunger

Summer bears the fruit of spring
But winter
Is chilling

Copyright 2007 Ruth Harrigan