the canal in winter

the smell of bonfire
hung thickly in the air
like old velvet curtains.
it was a cold night,
like when you leave 
the freezer door open.

the yellow diaphanous glow
that flooded from windows
was my only illumination,
lighting the path ahead
of a walk i know so well.

people sitting atop their boats
did not notice me.
they smoked and played instruments
and the aroma of piped tobacco
filled my nostrils and
comforted my senses.