When autumn has vanished and left us the cold,
The frost on the window is fearless and bold;
The sparrow, dejected, pulls neck into feathers;
Lone weeds are dark slaves that the bitterness tethers;
One leaf on the apple tree manfully clings;
While the pine and the cedar spread graceful green wings.
The wind is young; gusty; He shows off his might
As snow clouds debate with their burden of white.
That cold scrape of door as we let ourselves out
Reminds us of mittens, with Winter about;
And the white picket fence with a snow drift beneath
Is this masculine harridan showing his teeth.
by Ray Romine Monday, November 19, 1951
