If the Sidewalks Were Shoveled

If the sidewalks are shoveled,
we can walk barefoot without
getting our feet wet, bundled in
our warm winter jackets and
new gloves; we can walk
away from the dirty dishes
in the sink towards a warm
café and drink double espressos
and read the latest New York Times.
The sidewalks are never shoveled
except in front of our house,
When it snows, there is never
a pathway to the west or to
the east and we sit inside and drink
hot tea and bake cookies until
the sun comes out again and
melts away the snow.