Winter Dawn

The dawn rises to greet you,

Its smile dutiful as the former

Teacher’s, its handshake curt,

Blushing as it fails to curtail

Its shy strength. Behind the wry

Smile and sleepless watery eyes,

You sense an expansive hollow,

Dug daily by deep regret. Even as

You warm yourself with small

Talk and brisk buffeting barks,

You sense the sad shovelling slip

In between the inexorable years.