The bitter, humid cold, like so many other

bullies, rudely rolled in and unceremoniously

shoved out the soft, seasonal warmth without any

consideration for the wishes, wants or desires

of javelinas, coyotes, let alone people or scorpions

or tarantulas or even the affable seasonal warmth

itself, which had discreetly cajoled the sadistic summer

heat to move aside for a season and, in this case,

decided that discretion was the better part of valor

by moving aside only to return another day much

to the satisfaction of all those mentioned above

and even the rattlesnakes who were preparing

for a long winter’s nap on the heels of the trans-

itional, soft, seasonal warmth.