hug br he tries to warm up the coldness br between them br br inspired by br br The Warm and the Cold br Freezing dusk is closing br Like a slow trap of steel br On trees and roads and hills and all br That can no longer feel. br But the carp is in its depth br Like a planet in its heaven. br And the badger in its bedding br Like a loaf in the oven. br And the butterfly in its mummy br Like a viol in its case. br And the owl in its feathers br Like a doll in its lace. br Freezing dusk has tightened br Like a nut screwed tight br On the starry aeroplane br Of the soaring night. br But the trout is in its hole br Like a chuckle in a sleeper. br The hare strays down the highway br Like a root going deeper. br The snail is dry in the outhouse br Like a seed in a sunflower. br The owl is pale on the gatepost br Like a clock on its tower. br Moonlight freezes the shaggy world br Like a mammoth of ice - br The past and the future br Are the jaws of a steel vice. br But the cod is in the tide-rip br Like a key in a purse. br The deer are on the bare-blown hill br Like smiles on a nurse. br The flies are behind the plaster br Like the lost score of a jig. br Sparrows are in the ivy-clump br Like money in a pig. br Such a frost br The flimsy moon br Has lost her wits. br A star falls. br The sweating farmers br Turn in their sleep br Like oxen on spits.