Early Morning

ice, hard as stone

- standing – in the North –

bring it South, to home,

the hearth, the heart, the home.

Sons radiate upstairs

- I sit in new light

reading Emily Dickinson –

voices vibrate, doors

slam, open and re-slam.

The house cracks and a clock

ticks second by second.

Ice, hard as stone

- standing – in the North –

bring it South, to home,

the hearth, the heart, the home

and I feel a moment

(relax)

before slow steps

onto stairs;

an engagement

for needs,

hugs

Ice, hard as stone

- standing – in the North –

bring it South, to home,

the hearth, the heart, the home.