up past our bedtime —
the stars swing back around
to check up on us

sounds of winter —
a young buck scrapes his antlers
on a black tree trunk

mourning dove songs
now made of melted ice —
missing winter

Carolina wren
rooting under fallen leaves —
snowflakes drifting down

walking into town
we remember the old game
of synching our steps

this year's edition
of the great migration —
pine needles everywhere

reading behind you 
so we meet in the story —
save me the best bits

sounding out the chords —

our son returns to his

childhood piano

our Prep and Landing
Christmas Eve tradition —
every line by heart

more sub-zero days —
yellow-bellied sapsuckers
tag team up the maple

remnants of tall grass
frozen and blown down at last —
winter takes over

candles flickering
as we push through the long night —
winter Solstice

melting so quickly
we look skyward to be sure —
yes, it's really snow

all month we wait
for that white-throated sparrow
with the raspy call

after the drought
delight in the luxury
of puddle stomping

checking to see if
I have enough condolence cards —
nothing is promised

approaching solstice —
the stack of books by our bed
begins to teeter

making a new pair
out of two mismatched mittens —
winter invention

cold winter moon —
my friend cleans her mother's house
one last time

we work on puzzles
without looking at the box
from the edges in

we untangle the lights
and find the wreath hook —
Christmas songs on loop

wood smoke's faint note —
the neighbor's cozy evening
wafts over the fence

stillness embodied —
only the hare's watchful eye
gives it away

I throw my small hope
as high and hard as I can 
watching for the turn

a double-ringed moon
shines down on the old oak
just a few leaves left

we watch the fox
coming home after hunting
a squirrel in its mouth

back to wondering
if the birds might also be
grumbling about the cold

in the shade's blue light
saved by the colder ground —
a few flakes of snow

old photographs —
looking for the moment when
something was missing

long frozen nights —
the bird bath transforms into
a skating rink

kindergartners
showing off their dragon breath
on this first cold day

World Aids Day —
hopes for a vaccine
rise with our prayers