long winter nights

three hours later
amazed by how many
come and go holidaze
create feeling from earlier times
spent it in the old neighborhood
sounds of the city in the distance
in the wind the highway close enough
to hear cars hum as they go there and
wherever there might be
outside not so cold
filling blank pages again
with no regard for the faint lines
on a page and a mission and
focus will not be lost in words
that don't always fit
need to be stretched and bent
as the need arises and falls
with the same thud as last night
planes overhead still hear them
once out of sight
corner of the eye the mind and the yard
years of inspiration from years of experience
more than vegetables planted memories
in the garden and the pond came from an idea
and soon a sanctuary created
influence near and far old and young combined
and the long winter nights
are not compatible with newborn sleep habits
tired sister strong woman like her mother
surrounded by smiles and wisdom...