New Year’s Eve —

these opening chords we welcome

with claps and cheering

snow so light

we second-guess ourselves —

did we imagine it?

amazing how strong

the will to forget can be —

I erase a hole

snow in the forecast —

a chickadee sings close by

but I can’t spot it

forgetting

to set a timer —

baking by scent

long-awaited sun —

the looks on their faces

her favorite present

Meetinghouse carols —

we silently agree to sing

all of the verses

Trump Tower —

holiday sidewalk cheer

suddenly in shadow

last year’s card —

her handwriting

still here with us

while I’m gone

she surrenders, adding

one more string of lights

Solstice wind —

carrying the sound

of the day’s last train

long cold nights —

I welcome

your distraction

the first snowball

I tried to bring inside

to show my mom

winter tutorial —

hot chocolate marshmallows

by the handful

all morning

the sounds of ice

turning to rain

a tree glowing white

we follow the light like a lure

kisses for breadcrumbs

fallen leaves

frozen in place

still teaching us

powdered sugar —

decorating cookies

as snow dusts the lawn

near-freezing

water at the lake’s edge

gathering itself

the iron heats up —

I work to smooth the edge

from my voice

cold in the forecast —

our neighbor’s homemade ice rink

begins to take shape

its back to the wall

defending against winter —

red December rose

this cold black night —

we draw new constellations

with our eyes

walking home to you

by the light of the half moon —

nearly tomorrow

pink sunset clouds

reflected in the sheen

of yesterday’s rain

winter rain

filtering all the way through

to summer’s peach trees

while you sleep

I watch your lips

for my name

still holding a space

for a roofline long since gone —

our one-sided elm

(in honor of the original Friends' schoolhouse at Stonybrook)

with nothing to say

we call anyway, listening

to the other breathe

fewer leaves

with each passing day —

I call my father

Thanksgiving onions —

my son and I trade tips

on how not to cry