under burden of snow
the city grows quiet
human beings at work
the only movement tonight
shovel scrape, crunch,
tires sing on slick pavement
breaths hang in streetlight
mumbles, moans, and sighs
snow ends the business
of salvagers and gleaners
they join their fellows, shuffling
citizens who have little to do
but sprinkle their labors with salt
and inhale the night
