but a miserable houseguest.
When you visit Cold, she welcomes you briskly,
without hesitation ushering you into her world of white.
She may make your cheeks redden and nose redden,
your fingers and toes lose feeling,
your eyes water and nose sting,
such is the way of Cold.
But people say such nice things,
"Cold hands, warm heart," they say,
"What a healthy glow!" they say,
"Would you like some hot cocoa?" they say
that the side effects of visiting Cold seem negligible,
almost desirable.
Her decorations are always exquisite, captivating,
detailed, a delight to the senses.
Geometric, lacy snowflakes, delicate frost,
in timeless shades of white and gray, and sometimes hints of blue.
Rippled icicles, chilly yet a tactile joy,
frozen waves you cannot disrupt.
Cold creates most wonderful sights,
peace settles on the world with her
blankets of falling snow, which gently grace
every surface they land on.
She emphasizes every detail, while obscuring them at the same time.
A masterful designer, Cold is.
When you leave Cold, exhilarated and enlivened,
you appreciate the warmth of the inside.
You remember the crisp blueness of the sky,
even if content to view it from a window,
and recall the marvel of seeing your breath as it leaves you.
Yet when Cold comes to call on you,
she is a much less gracious personality.
Her briskness remains, and she sweeps in your door without
the brief pause and welcome that cordiality recommends.
The snow that comes with her quickly melts,
leaving puddles for you to slip in or dirty the floor.
Once inside, Cold lingers near windows and doors,
sulking, avoiding, or looking for the nearest escape route.
If others join your party, she flees even further and faster,
refusing persuasion to join the conversation and company
of your other houseguests.
Anyhow, just keep in mind that cold can be a marvelous hostess,
but a reluctant houseguest.
