I Am Grateful For Brother Finn

November 11th, 1938. winter, Sweden neighbor's pond water is not frozen yet bucket spilled drops are chilly grandma Sven's crocheted mittens are not warm enough younger brother Finn tells me to hurry family waits for these precious drops of water cannot fire up cast iron cook stove without stew juice Chester, our broken down farm pony waits patiently sky spells out snowstorm I am shivering now, my feet feel frostbitten I wish that we were closer to the home Christmas Krampus is coming, my brother teases me When I laugh I see my breath, it travels up in weather puffs if we do not move soon, there will be frosty icicles on our noses I am grateful for Finn he knows how to keep my mind off my discomfort