From my bed in the early quiet of the morning br I see those stark, bare branches br of the tree, br etched onto the backcloth of the dirty grey sky. br br The year is dying. br br Everything is empty. br br The tree has no green-ness, br the sky is devoid of clouds, br the air is filled with silence. br br I am alone. br br Then....... br the slow chug, chug of an engine br whispers into the deadness, br growing into my ears, br and I see the young man br with the black dog br glide past in the gloom. br br He is alive br and brings life back onto the cut br with his presence. br br Another human being. br br The day is no longer so grey....