SOLAR ENERGY

Iced winter cuts the frosted day from his block

And inks the trees against the crow- quavered sky.

Beside the river, fog mists the snapshot fields -

The swirling ghosts of slaughtered sheep.

Night draws back her tent to aqueous cream;

The nose-numb walker squints at pink- ribboned dawn,

Knees grate on hoof- hard furrowed track.

A lemon disc rises glassy cold.

Silence.

Below the boulder toad and slug inanimate wait,

Rabbits snug in their warmy warrens,

A battalion of pale-bladed snow-drops

Pierce the soil and rigor-mortis leaves.

The contracted walker trudges into town,

Past duvet doors and cushioned curtains,

Season- shut cafes with icicle-tipped gutters,

Diamond signs and thin clung menus.

The shuttered season groans.

On crystalled pavement the walker stumbles,

Skids past pedestrian crossing,

Frozen fingers fuse to penguin post,

Push the button, a red light glows.

And gushes hot chocolate onto the road!

Cars bob by like marshmallow toppers,

Ferns spring from grids, bagels from lamp-posts,

Flocks of goldfinch perch on donut door bells,

Roses petal the street signs.

And at the cheese-sliced bus stop the walker rests,

With garnered sledge of steamy scones.

Sheep flock through by  knee-high pasture

With bleats and baas to graze the day.

Solar Energy!