Climate of the Soul

On this last day of January
where the warmth of a cautious winter
stoically frowns on the melting driveway

it is not lost on my logical self
how lucky I am.

After so many winters of shoveling myself out
of the darkness and cold,
I am freer than I have ever been
to take my cup of tea
and sit quietly doing nothing
while the world brashly ignores my peace.

After my kindness and conscientiousness of duty
to keep the paths clear, I am given this small break
in order to notice an afternoon of joy.

Let the climate of the soul change
and let fear flow away deep into the earth.