the cost of living

 barely a mist caresses

the burning oaks outside my window

here where it's relatively safe

I think of what else is falling

and on what, on whom

in various places

snow on the mountains, ash from the bowels of the earth

the cost of living of course

snow and ice

but, in relatively safe lviv

where they say 'just lviv it'

the cost of living is rising fast

© Owen Smith 2023