The Winter Storm of 1994

Two cast-iron cats with glowing eyes

Sat in the fireplace, accompanying the flames

But not stealing the spotlight.

The fire crackled and moved in a wild, original way

And kept my fleeting attention

Reminding me there was never a time without Zelda

Or Hockey video games.

I could only be bothered by boredom or lack of a hot beverage.

The snowstorm of 1994 covered everything I knew

Creating an unfamiliar, quiet, white landscape

That kept my fleeting attention

And I’m reminded that I could never be bothered.

Alabama lost one fourth of its pecan yield this winter

But I couldn’t be bothered

If not by the certain capriciousness of weather

Then definitely not by the lack of nuts.