January Morning

by

H. Vi Jamieson

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Street corner snow banks
plowed high up       as Stop signs
Mercury dipped to minus three three
Chimney vapours climbing
straight up
to a frosty blue sky
          and
in the yard by the carport
wind ruffled a fluff of bright feathers
bird of last summer
a Yellow-Shafted Flicker
legs stiffly extended
frozen       dead in the snow

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