Berry Red

early morning frosts still the world

air cold enough to turn your breath to great gusts of steam.

 

in the kitchen, you sprinkle icing sugar like frost over little christmas muffins

warm yourself by the spice of a gingerbread, or the sweetness of coconut cake filled with cherry jam.

 

wrap up well for a walk through the fields

then out of the oven comes an upside down cake, cranberry red and hot to the touch,

 

 

 

make delicious christmas presents for the ones you love

 

 

 

and douse the fruit cake with booze 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then sit by the fire with a brandy shot to watch the flames flicker and dance.

 

 

 

 

 

outside the leaves have set like glass

 

 

 

 

 

 

as the sun goes down on midwinter Christmas eve.