January Thaw

What's that? January thaw,
With morning's low minus six degrees?
Ice fishing houses dot the lake,
and slush is far from splashing cars.

Statements in the mail,
speed the days of passing month.
The winter days' anticipated length,
more imagined than reality.

Elders' sayings "longer days,
stronger cold"; it's up and down.
Murphy's law, figure of speech,
and February sun warms cars.

Parked in the sun, they fool,
the anticipation of the boys,
looking for baseball days,
and girls spotting flower buds.

One day at a time;
stay in the day that's here;
March wind and April moon,
speed when income tax is due