Winter to the Furnace

She arrived one morning in her white dress

heralded by bird call and the wind of the Northeast

the landscape was made new with her sparkle

the light of day more bright and crisp

I was brought to life as she approached

the dormant coals locked in my steel furnace

burst into orange glowing

energy condensed for an epoch,

released

she chastened the sun and the days quickened

the world shifted and slowed in her presence

but not me, I was impelled, ravenous, burning

I raised my thick hoary ashen column to the heavens

and sullied her alabaster shroud with my sulfurous particulates.