Deep Winter

by Garry Gay and Michael Dylan Welch

First published in Frogpond 17:3, Autumn 1994. Written 9 August 1992 in Foster City, California. This was the first rengay ever written (Garry invented the rengay form the night before). Download or view the “Four Rengay” trifold, where this rengay also appears, on the Trifold Downloads page on my Graceguts website.

deep winter

shriveled on a branch

unpicked apple Garry

grey sleet

blows against the tree roots Michael

muffled by the storm

in this monochrome world

distant goat bell Garry

a clock ticking

by the frosted window

steaming muffins Michael

at midnight

counting each chime Garry

storm clouds pass . . .

moonlight through lace curtains

falls on the cat’s back Michael