And the world woke that cold winter morning
there was no light
there was no heat
vehicles were left where they stopped
not abandoned just worthless

We looked out the window
dressed in overcoats, scarf, onesie's
and double socks
trying not to breath on the glass

Neighbors shrugging shoulders
listening to a battery operated radio
fuming at the demands coming from the
private islands of the new world oligarchs

Across the way
smoke billowed form a house which still had
a chimney, we could feel the heat

I told the children stories of when I was a child
In the winter I had to get the coal from the
coal bunker at the bottom of the garden
chop sticks place them on top of old news papers
and light the fire for my brothers and sisters

The good old days I smiled to myself
as I found an unused summer barbecue
we huddled around it and toasted some bread
the children laughed
we will survive