Forced Hot Water

It is minutes before the sun will rise,
and a thin blanket of
light and snow
has draped itself over windshields and
hedges and has even managed
to hold on to the rusty handle bars
of my old bike,
leaning against the porch.

I have witnessed this transformation
in its entirety tonight,
while I sat
next to a small crack in the window-
comforting the radiator between each
piercing scream of heat.
It's okay, it's just a dream I tell it.
Tomorrow you will wake to see
the intruder has melted beneath
a crackling sun.

I know the truth though-
that we cannot defend ourselves all winter.
Soon we will need the protection
of a second blanket.