Thick frost covered the undulating
Landscape, a chill breeze came out
Of the North. Clear night skies
Helped the temperature dip well
Below freezing for the fifth
Consecutive day. The naked trees,
White fields and the frozen pond
Testified to the death of autumn.
Summer was only a distant memory.
His numb hands worked the flimsy
Plastic scraper across the thick layer of ice
On the windshield until it was clear enough
To drive into town. Sitting in the cold car
He vigorously pumped the gas pedal several
Times, turned the key and listened as the engine
Agonizingly turned over, slowly at first and then
Reluctantly more rapidly until it roared to life.
The heater blew a blast of cold air into his face
And immediately refroze the windshield.
Driving the winding driveway to the gravel road
the car bumped along on the frozen flatness
Of all tires. A flash of yellow, as a country
School bus sped by.
It was morning in Alberta.
No comments:
Post a Comment