MID-DECEMBER

A full moon shines
Over the morning frost;
The lanes are full of late-fallen leaves;
Walking across the mulch
Is almost as tricky
As treading over ice.

In town the carol-singers are in
Crowding the shopping-mall,
While a group of muffled musicians
Play by the outside market.

This year but two robins
On the early christmas cards;
The squirrel still runs along the fence
Skirting our newly-erected shed.