"First Night of Winter"

12/21

The logs break into embers and ash
Whiskey is passed
Stories told about weddings
Laughs.
The mulled wine is gone and the fire stick finds new hands
Coals break and spread
Whiskey is passed
The conversation turns serious
There is no humane killing
No animal wants to die
Ever.
Life Lives.
The last beer is poured
Rats girdled the trees
(Humans didn't cut them down)
Whiskey is passed
Quality of life slowly slipped
Whiskey is passed
Logs are no more, only embers and ash
Nothing left but
                              laugh

Whiskey is passed