This was written for the January  Poets pub competition,

January

Well it's different for me'

Than for those of you living up north.

It's hot and it's dry,

Water plants or they die!

And I'm weeding for all I am worth!

But it's not that I'm glum,

There are peaches and plums,

All forming for joy on the trees.

And the apricots ripen,

Just as I'm typin',

We've already eaten cherries.

Well I think it is grand,

Just to live in this land,

To relax in the heat of the sun,

With my hand, out I reach,

To pick a sweet peach,

Or if you would rather - a plum!

So we're not like you guys,

With the snow in your eyes,

In the south we are bathing in sun.

But whatever I say,

Come June, maybe May,

It's likely the snow, here, will come!

Bruce Lietze

6 January 2016