Ways to Reduce the Heating Bill

I wrote this poem two years ago, in late January/early February. As I literally cannot stop shivering today (despite my long underwear and space heater) I thought it would be an appropriate repost.

"Ways to Reduce the Heating Bill"

It's time to add another quilt to the seven already on the bed. I'll plastic all the windows and you can dig out that box of old sweaters. We'll keep the thermostat at sixty degrees and can fill hot water bottles and put them between the cold sheets. We have that old space heater, but you're afraid it will burn the house down, so let's just leave it in the basement. After we move the electric teapot and peppermint tea next to the bed we'll stuff towels into the crack underneath the door. Then we'll pile on sweaters and long underwear, get under the covers, and read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to one another. Although, we're probably more likely to slip out of our sweaters, crawl between the covers, and find other ways to keep warm.