We are like so many animals

in a close dark cave,

huddled together for warmth.

We cross our paws over our coats

and turn up our collars,

sniffing at the smell of rain.

Whenever a window opens,

or someone walks through the door,

we blink up at him

growling about the cold and shrinking against the walls.

We bare our teeth in a yawn,

and close  our eyes again,

sinking back into our winter sleep,

until we awake at our bus-stop.