Gathering firewood is one of them.  I don’t wish

I knew how to do it.  It shouldn’t be hard to do

 

but one should shape things just so that there

would be something to gather – firewood, fireflies,

 

or fame, salt-and-pepper sets, sewing thimbles,

something for an evening of tea with invented friends.

 

What does the phrase ‘gathering gloom’ mean?

Do the clouds get together and decide to darken?

 

Does this mean it’s time for humans and other

creatures to huddle in a circle and chant?

 

Is it then time to kick off one’s shoes and beat the

ground with feet?  I don’t know how to do that either.

 

(c) Ella Wagemakers, 21.13 Dutch time (= 15.13 EST in the US)