January Has Arrived!

by Cheryl Merrick

Days short - but getting longer
Temperatures cold - but getting warmer

Frivolous holiday trappings
are carefully, but firmly, put back in their boxes.
Gone are the brightly tinkling lights
and the spicy smell of goodies baking.

Instead of basking in the warm glow
of celebration indulgence,
we squint in the glaring spotlight
of reality.