Cold Came In the Other Day

Margaret V.Doran

Cold came in the other day
and took up residence
in the basket chair in the corner
          the one furthest from the wood stove
I threw another log on the fire
          and hoped the children would not notice
but each, in his turn, found Cold

a disagreeable companion
          and sought some other place to sit
so cold reigned in the corner
          and fed on the little drafts that wafted in
                    through the single-pane windows
and he bloated there in his glory
          and gorged himself each time the front door opened

we began leaving things in his chair
          since it was useless with him in it:
books and mail and bags and toys
but Cold accommodated them all
          and wrapped himself around them
          as if they were his, even
creeping in amongst the pages

No longer content in the corner
          he sprawled out onto the floor
and we put on wooly socks
          and threw two logs on the fire
as Cold crept up onto the sofa
          like a naughty cat
and made himself at home there, too

We, for our part, donned fuzzy sweaters;
          fanned the flames in the stove
and moved the remaining chairs closer
seeking respite from our company
          turned our backs on him
no longer cordial
          and wished that he would go away

Copyright © 2002 Margaret V. Doran. All rights reserved.

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Updated April 4, 2002
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