Happy Insomniac

Winter in Chicago: a Haiku Cycle

by Karen Gsteiger

I.

i neglect to wear

my hat and scarf. i am not

mentally prepared.

II.

although i wear gloves,

my fingers grow numb as i

scrape my front windshield.

III.

every winter i

wonder why i continue

to live in this state.

IV.

chicago wind cuts

through me like a ginsu blade

through a tomato.

V.

some people like the

changing seasons, but i miss

the sun and green leaves.

VI.

although i admit

that hot tea satisfies more

on a wintry day.

VII.

winter would be more

tolerable if they turned

off Christmas music.