A Six-Layer Day

Today was a six-layer day

Yesterday was only five

An extra layer added

Like dirty snow upon the land

The cold begins with the underwear

Through the knitted long johns and designer jeans

Then out to the pullovers, sweaters and jackets

Cold fingers, cold thumbs, cold knuckles

Cold face, cold feet, cold body

As cold we sit in our little room together

Huddling next to the electric heater

We count off another cold, slow day from our calendar

Waiting only for another cold tomorrow

Our spirits hibernate

Beneath the layers