four below on the second of January

Charlotte says

It’s cold outside today. what should

I do?

What do you mean

(x5, back and forth                    which of us is more obstinate?)

What should I wear?!                            she exclaims, and

this is obvious to both of us

I watch Philip up to

the front doors of Raleigh, set down the sax case

open and enter

at 727 the teachers have abandoned their door holding

in the winter, I watch

and wait

I turn left at the green house  — and the multi Christmas lights

strings are delicious, like

the anticipation before candy

-4

Bones and joints creak in

the cold

Philip’s knee and my

neck

Active shooter at UMD last

night, says D

allegedly suicidal male

and R killed himself

in Hartley

which is lovely in winter and teeming with

life in summer

turtles and

the monarch garden milkweed

2 years ago, and 2 months

after retirement

tricks of the light