Diana Darby ** "I V" ** Intravenous

An Early Winter

This Fall,
Winter has come early.
Temperatures are already in the twenties at night
and the forties during the day.
The leaves,
what few strugglers are left,
hold on to their branches
like newly docked sailors
clutching prized Geisha’s.
The squirrels, a rare sight these days,
seem weary to relinquish their coveted tree holes,
and have already closed up shop.
Only a lone buck
makes his way into my backyard
to nibble on greenery
before disappearing into the forest.
Inside,
I am curled up too,
dreaming of a fire in my fireplace
and a cup of hot cocoa.
The thought of going out
even with the protection of
long underwear,
a hat,
gloves,
a coat,
and a scarf,
leaves me shivering.
Florida is looking better and better.