Tormented, rain-soaked branches, heaving,

beckoning leaden, clashing, threatening clouds,

madly, helplessly, at stormy whim,

weeping downcast, staccato, prickling drops,

drumming loudly, poking the sobbing windows,

mocking within the cold, mean kindling,

sputtering meagre, impotent, blue flecked flames,

drunkenly wavering, death-throw flickering

licking the shadows, but ever lying, failing, dying,

dolefully promising to light a new grey day.