frozen morning

over twenty years ago
when we planned our house
we researched
passive solar heating
and thought
we were so clever

a long house
facing south
to catch the summer rays
free heating

but
the books from abroad
neglected to tell us
of the winter winds
from the south
that rattle
the double windows
insecure in
their duplicated frames

and no where
did I see
warnings
of eastern windows
so perfect for seeing
the glorious sunrise
and also
perfect
for heating
overheating the house
in the summer

and we never knew
when planning that is
that a long house
so inefficient to heat
stacked one half
on the other
would have been cozier
and more cost effective

instead
an empty attic
and long lonely halls

these regrets
triggered
by this frozen morning