January

We often go for long drives in the countryside, even during winter, on the weekends.

This weekend, I snapped a couple of photos from the car as the scenery quickly passed out of sight.




When I saw them, I immediately thought of Molly's school assignment from early December: she'd had to choose a book or a poem about winter to read to her class. Eventually, she chose January by John Updike.

The days are short,
The sun a spark
Hung thin between
The dark and dark.

Fat snowy footsteps
Track the floor,
And parkas pile up
Near the door.

The river is
A frozen place
Held still beneath
The trees' black lace.

The sky is low.
The wind is gray.
The radiator
Purrs all day.

from
A Child's Calendar by John Updike.