At Stanley
So
the whole county from Consett to Billingham is snow.
The dog is coldest, and the small black spider. Only when the heat
leaks from the houses, or comes a constant weight of feet
And the traffic, is there any melting.
Thick gripped hands and small ones make snowballs, pelting
People for fun and not for fun till
You almost forget the Quiet and the slate skies (large) still.
And all the dip of Durham is white,
Overnight,
in a sudden worked evangelising
while the lads and lasses was slumb'ring.
(Only, to the east lay the sea unfrozen, ships safe in water
And the tugs give a gentle 'Ahooga')