μάθημα

It is the berries under snow

the windows etched with ice

the smoke suspended, frozen, in air

the exhaust exiting the tailpipe

the steps slick as foot treads

the brown tree body creaking

the equation in the stars, 

it is the sheen of snow under lamplight,

 the shadow of branches under moonlight,

the crease of pages under candlelight

all in the hand

that gives and takes away, 

all beneath the finger 

that marks out the voids and the fillings, 

the additions and subtractions,

the arithmetic of grace.