Christmas Eve. 

I sit, as the sky struggles to get lighter

The darkness fighting hard in this northern winter

A house quiet in this strange new rhythm we find ourselves in

No-one but me awake before 8

This hour of quiet helping me 

Brace for the day. 

I sit and listen

The birds outside are confident the light will come

I tune into their song

Hopeful, relentless against the gloom

Hardy poems fill my head, little cause for carolling? 

I breathe deep, sigh, lean my head against the dark

and ask again, what have you for me today?