In this place where it never snows
The shortest day sunset comes an hour later
Than where the snow covers our house
Seen in the photo you sent after the storm
There our kitchen got repurposed into a bakery
You making good use of our empty refrigerator
Preparing to make 33 dozen cookies for your charity
Baking in a hot oven warming the house on a cold day
I imagine the delicious aroma in our occupied house
And the rush to complete such a big project
And the satisfaction delivering the goods on time
And afterwards the relief to be able to rest and relax
We missed all that being here taking it easy
On our evening walks seeing the seasonal decorations
Put up to celebrate as the winter solstice draws near
Setting out festive displays to light up the darkness
Happily nothing is religious not a single one
Just whimsical inflatables making harmless fun
With animated light shows projected on their houses
With colored light sparkles illuminating their doorways
We see much the same sky as you in the north
Watching each night the approach of Jupiter and Saturn
The conjunction there in the southwest after sunset
A little closer every evening until this night today
The cosmic illusion of planets coming together
When actually they are quite far apart
Like us feeling a closeness with each other
While we watch the same celestial event
