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