Photographs

December was unforgiving and January came too soon,
The cycle started with children in their oversized coats,
Hand in hand with parents too busy to notice.
While cars rattled down the street, wheezing in protest.
New Year’s Day and it was like they hadn’t even realised.
Because the years disappeared into a cluster of what could have been.
And they fell so fast, pilling up like a stack of photographs
Aging with cracks, dust and dreams, that were gone before
Anyone had time to realise what was there.