what had happened overnight
the fire must have gone out
in the middle of the night
and whoever was responsible
for keeping it going
was nowhere to be found
outside the snow drifts
nearly reached the eaves of the garage
and opening the front door
would probably—to say the least
be a bad idea
out back the barn doors
were wide open & banging
against the wall
both horses out of their stalls
the sleigh also missing
gazing out the front bay window
we noticed not one chimney in sight
had smoke billowing out of it
and suddenly
we became frightened
november two thousand twenty-four
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