Though you swayed at your walker
Though it pissed off my mother
You stood at the smoker
Building fire from tinder
Coaxing coal into ember
Adjusting the damper
Till combustion of matter
Made fat gently render
And sinew go looser
And shoulder turn tender
While around you the verdure
Of winter’s last taper
Warmed your pale outer layer
With the spring sun’s first smolder