Icy Hand

Just once I bow to cliche.

The cliche that makes winter
an icy hand slowly rolled in,
following a weather warning
for 27 counties in North Dakota.

I sat with warmed hands
and a cold drink
upon my sofa
watching the talking heads
on The Weather Channel
sum up hazardous travel
and more snow to come
in 37 second bites
every 10 minutes.

I thought to myself
what a wonderful thing it is
to be snuggling with my wife
and watching the puppy and kitty
play and fight and play-fight
on the floor
while the wind
plays a drift making draft
around the garage door.

In a warm house
with ones you love
and dinner slowly cooking
in a crock-pot
winter seems tamed
and vague.
A problem to worry about
and be attacked
with big shovels
and ice scrapers
on the morrow.

The cliche that makes winter
an icy hand slowly rolled in,
following a weather warning
for 27 counties in North Dakota.