Curled Up in a Blanket on the Deck at Grandma’s House

Around the corner, I see a spiral-striped cat,

Padding on top of the crunchy snow,

Melting like a small child’s ice cream on a sunny day.

Above my head on top of a leafless tree,

The birds chirp to one another

Into the distances of the crisp winter morning.

To my right,

In a beam of sunlight between two metal chairs,

The shells of numerous sunflower seeds

Scatter like chocolate chips on a huge cookie.

I lean back, as the calm early morn fades into the afternoon buzz.

A chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee calls out, searching for romance.

I am all alone.