December Light by Sheila DC Robertson

Gray light sifts shabby

through limp curtains

   A creak of bedsprings

   An adjusting pop

   of joints 

before he begins the shuffle

across the surface of day

What there is to look forward to...

He lifts the cold handle 

   of the cast iron stove

   limps out onto the icy porch

   gathers kindling

   to boil another pot of oats

   and warm yesterday’s coffee

Life is now in repetition

of creaks and pops

of oatmeal mornings

of fires and embers

of static on the old Zenith

And cold evening vigils

   as December light flickers 

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In the varied landscapes that define the Northwest, Sheila seeks beauty off the beaten path. She is happiest wandering the Pacific’s edge or camped out in America's remotest deserts. Her articles, stories and poetry reflect these rich landscapes. They have been printed in publications including Crab Creek Review, Travel & Leisure Magazine, Writer’s in the Attic and North Coast Squid.