In the Snow and Other Things

It is far too cold to stay outside. You have retired indoors already, and turned on the light in the study. I can see it from where I'm standing in the yard, can see how the lamps are reflecting off the leather books, burnt orange and red and yellow, blurred in the window, melted, warm. And I with my boots and coat, standing under the dark trees. My breath shows in the air, disappears into falling snow, and I know that I have grown cold. That it is far too cold to stay.