Hampton, Virginia By Nikki Gionvanni 


the birds flew south
ealier this year
and flowers wilted under the glare
of frost
nature puts her house in order

the weather reports say this
will be the coldest winter
already the perch have burrowed
deep into the lakes
and the snails are six instead
of three feet under

I quilted myself
one blanket and purchased five
pounds of colored popcorn
in corners I placed dried 
flowers and in my bathroom a jar
of lavender smells
my landlord stripped my windows
and I cut all my old sox for feet pads
they say you should fight the cold with the cold
but since I never do anything right
I called you