christmas rain

there is something incongruous with Christmas and rain
December snows are melting
the roads vaccilate between wet slickness and perilously icy

snow drifts retreat into mud
the dog finds a place to dig
and the hose is frozen
so he has to be brought upstairs to the kitchen
covered by a sheet lest he shake himself

snowmen melt
the eaves
decorated with colourful lights
drip

Santa is sure to have his umbrella
because he knows that christmas
is a local construct
in a vast world

Adrian Hoad-Reddick 12/21/05