a cold snap

cold environment

In the flat farming landscape 
the soil had frozen solid in the absence of snow
in a hollow, rain had made a lake 
where he could go try skating after the animals 
had been seen to
when he opened the door to the stalls, the cows
mooed wanted milking and stalls cleaned
with fresh straws
sheep and goats, taken into the barn
were the first to let out when there was a thaw 
with his job done, washed his hands in 
the scullery kitchen ate big slices of homemade bread, cheese, marmalade, and milk 
the tiny lake looked like an unshed tear waiting for
a reason to fall, but not today 
His skates were old fashioned type, the front curved
upward, had leather straps, and nuisance to fit
his mind had mastered the ice thing, but when 
getting on the ice, he fell several times the dogs 
delight stupidly thinking it was a game
When he was able to slide along, the lake was
too small for speed and lost interest
The landscape was crystal clear, and the sky above 
endless, a lone plane was crossing the sky,
looking for an airport 
I didn't know that in a few days, he would leave 
on a smelly bus back to town and poverty