There are mornings so gray that any revelation seems impossible; this is one of them. Still, the finches forage, the wren does its dance.

Black lace of branches against the sky. When the wind stops, the thick smoke of my breath blocks my view. A tree pops, loud as a rifle shot.

More fresh snow—or is this the wind’s work? My house is empty again. The night is loud with trains carrying coal and corn syrup.

I sweep snow off my chair, then look up to see the crescent moon appearing and disappearing behind the clouds. Trees creaking in the dark.

A fresh dusting of snow since midnight, and more flakes in the air. The windows vibrate with the snoring of a late-night reveler.

I am blocking on common bird calls—with each sneeze I forget another name. Behind the trees, the sky is white and gold, blue and gray.