baby it's cold in here

lying beneath
a thick blanket I get up
in the middle of
the night
and turn the heat up.
it's snowing inside
the house.
there is ice on
the windows.
I spread a bag of road
salt going up the stairs
and put out some
orange cones leading
into the slippery
kitchen.
I see the dog stiff
against the couch.
I breathe into his mouth
and bring him back to life.
I make him a cup of hot tea
then carry him upstairs.
it's cold in here.
I call up betty and ask
her if it's snowing in
her house too.
she says yes. brrrr. it's
cold as hell.
I tell her, I thought
hell was supposed to be
hot. she laughs. I guess
you thought wrong
buster brown.