wind howls
and the Southern sky
fills with clouds the color
of smoke this Sunday
six days

before
Christmas as I drink
hot tea happily and
a smile spirals, spins
from soul

to eyes
to lips that would be
kissed were this an ideal
December day spent
with you

trees bow
outside my window,
swept up in season’s song,
and I rejoice – Love     
has come

perhaps
one day we’ll peer through
frosted glass at winter’s
wonderland; alone
today

it is
enough to know I
love you, to have received
gift unexpected
in cold

winter
of my life, to fall,
surprised by summer sun
in you, stand sure in
love’s spring.