after five days

after five days

the snow sits still on the roofs and sills

there

is the absence of the long afternoon

now when i talk of bitterly cold

i can honestly say i know how it feels

the sun picks out a building not in shadow and gives it shine

across the road

the girls out of school shriek with joy for no reason at all

you too don’t need any

though you need to pay attention where you step

especially with the parts that have hardened to ice

the rush hour voices hasten you on

this is no good time to waste

i hurry and turn the corner and from your face

at once i realise i’m too late