December Again

The outside mat is frosted
honeycomb crystals
that crunch beneath my feet
 
I walk to the birdfeeder
top up the seed, to cause
a temporary scattering
 
the birdbath is frozen over
I tap it with my fingernail
enjoying the small tinny echo
 
one of the cats emerges
from underneath the laurel
an orange shock against the snow
 
I pour some cat food into his bowl
the sound dulled
by the thin air
 
the postman rings the doorbell
It can’t get any colder!
Let’s hope not!
 
I am alone in a postcard
a fairy-tale scene
I am alone, but I know
 
that later, my daughter and I
will blow misty puff breaths
pretending to smoke cigarettes
 
I look at the sky
slate grey and interrupted
by a high-flying buzzard, who
 
when it looks down
must see
only white