BrokenEchoes

  The rest of the world went to sleep an hour ago We watched it turn in from our porch swing We share the cloudless night  With a soft buzz of frogs and crickets I like it when the world gets quiet And we can steal a still moment together I like it when the night is newly set And we can watch the lightning bugs for a bit I like it when the air has just a touch of chill And you snuggle a little closer on the porch swing

A chill frost crusts the morning grass And forms an impenetrable shell on my windshield I dread the cold and the wet and  the burning pain in my hands I could scrape the glass clean and have it done Or let the defroster work and have another cup of coffee I drink a second cup of the bitter brew  in the shadow of the foothills I drag the week’s trash down the treacherous drive To the curb, for pickup As the sun crests the mountain, It sets fire to the frozen particles  Clinging to the trash can A million dazzling glints on the black And I welcome the sparkling flame of morning.