Winter

The city breathes, sunk in itself
Sunk deep in silence, crisp air crackles
Snowy breath turning ashes to crystal
Drops on a blanket, muffled in white.

This early hour, and the city sleeps
To wake in wonder at a changed world
All soft furnishing, carpets and cushions
Soft like down, still like dawn.

Slow, sluggish river, lazy and laggardly
Dragging its feet, it cuts them on ice
A pearl of brilliance as the sun strikes
Cold ray melting colder gem.

A world of light! But the beast still lives
Smog smothering advances on cowering streets
With a ranting yawn its cry envelops
Death throes of this city dream.