What is the snow If not a cold drink From heaven A shock Of nourishment from above Putting us suddenly on notice To stop and watch With wide eyes and wonder As the world disappears Frozen for an instant. A time to go inward A time to wait. What is the snow If not a disruption A danger An deafening order To halt. A blunt force that heaves Obstacle after obstacle in our orbit. Brutal proof Of the violent power beyond us, A strength that can Snuff out Light and life In a white moment. When I was young The blizzards came And trapped us on the farm. With dread and reverence We tramped through the bitter wind To break the ice on watering tanks To feed and care for precious cattle. Drifts piled sky high Against snow fences Tree branches sparkling in the rising sun. Later, we baked lemon cakes. No choice but to wait For the roads to be cleared. Suspended In hardship and joy Alone in our pale universe. What is the snow If not a sharp breath A pause A shining silver mirror Casting a raw reflection on our mortality. A focus on our fragility A warning That waiting is the way to warmth A bracing prompt That patience is the path. Even today when the blizzards come I am filled with fear and awe. The sharp wind in my lungs Loosens images Of black cattle covered in white blankets And branches bending to the ground As if praying For the storm to pass. I feel the icy flakes on my cheeks And smell The crisp, clean air The warm sweet round scent Of sugar and citrus Floating from the oven. What is the snow If not a memory A reminder of humility. A time to go inward. A time to wait.
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Beautiful. I love the snow! If we only had more of it this year (we have none at the moment)...
Yes! And then if your power goes out, like ours did, both awe at the beauty and humility. And lots of planning of next steps...