reading by candlelight

Pat Mahony

winter 

a rain storm with a hard wind 

my wife and I hear a loud CRACK 

from a tree breaking 

then no electricity for 19 hours 

we read by candlelight 

cuddle 

talk 

later the dog sleeps right next to me 

tight against my tummy 

my wife on the other side 

all of us close together under blankets 

and I tell you (as I often have) 

a simple life isn’t so bad 

…