Early January,

Through the holidays,

Late evening,

Clear night, brittle cold,

Common up here,

A brief walk with the dog before bed

Underfoot snow squeaks as no other sound,

The dog shivers

I shiver,

Three quarter moon rises low in the southeast,

Stocking cap, coat, boots, gloves,

I shiver again,

No wind, no sound than squeaking of boots on snow,

Just cold,

Diamond dust falls sparkling through moonlight,

Clear against dark trees,

Cold defies cloudless sky,

Wrings diamond dust from the air,

Memories of childhood,

Frigid nights, squeaking snow,

Diamond dust