in praise of old windows

i can close

the new windows.

they are made

of vinyl

and metal, plastic.

surgically installed

by trained

technicians.

they are

no longer wood.

no air gets in, no air

gets out.

do i miss the wheezing

of the old

wooden ones,

yes, i do.

the cold breeze,

the broken latches,

the cracks,

the bullet holes from

hunters

in the woods.

i miss how they shook

in storms,

and iced over.

the older i get 

the more i prefer what's

old.