A cracked lip; raw skin.
I pined for orange flickers
Dancing off a cheery fire.
A gelid blast of arctic air
Had caught me unawares -
Reinforcing my desire.
Turning down an avenue,
I froze; suspicious trees -
Likely destined for a pyre -
Were laughing off the icy chill
Of callous winter nights.
And I? Simply to retire
Snug, inside a balmy chair
Of warming solitude:
Ah! my carol, my festive choir.