Sunday, February 12, 2006

A Snowy Day

It's been snowing here in W. MA all day, the same snow JC had in KY a couple of days ago. It's quite lovely, and put me in mind of this poem, which I wrote in 1986.

Snow

The slow, steady creak of my boots sounds
loud in the silent street; until I pause
to raise my hood, and a crystal soft swish
and patter enspheres me, in whose center
I soon grow still. More now, and faster falling
around me; and I walk In a world, without,
yet within, alone, yet one with the sounds
of the waking street: Shouts of playing children,
barking of a dog, ring of an ax on wood.

For hearing has eclipsed sight in the silver-strung
morning, where distance deceives and even gravity stands
still, content to straddle the shoulders of the wind.
And the wind, with a conjurer's hand, sets the snowflakes
dancing in spinning spirals that bewilder the unwary
watcher, winding him - me - in a wandering reverie.

The houses, the trees, the passing people of the familiar
street seem strange through the shifting screen of snow,
unreachable, and yet I could dance with them all, whirling
and wheeling in the wind's hands like the softly sifting
snowflakes. I stop and draw a long breath, blinking
away visions of forbidden freedom in the singing circles
of the stars. Earthbound again, I feel my fingers, nose
and feet chill. Heedless of higher things, they crave
cocoa and curling up in a warm corner. Smiling, I turn
and quietly walk home through the crowded, snowy morning.

First published in Delta Epsilon Sigma Journal

5 comments:

Catreona said...

But, but, you're a member! You wouldn't be on the contributor's list if you weren't a member. What's going on?

Catreona said...

Oh! Thanks for the kind words on the poem. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Catreona said...

I don't understand, listener. Your profile lists this blog...

The thing is, there's no way for me to see what you're seeing, or not seeing. *scratches head* If you'd be willing to e-mail me your password, then I could log in as you and have a better chance of seeing what's going on. Now, I would no more dream of abusing the privillige of using your Blogger password than of dancing naked in the street. However, I know some people are very reluctant to make that leap of faith and entrust their password to someone else. So, even though you could change it after I finished investigating, I'll totally understand if you don't want to take such a ratical step. But, I must tell you, I'm flummoxed.

jc said...

Nice poem. I love the way snow quickly changes the landscape. I've been enjoying watching the birds in the feeder, the cardinals brighter than ever against the white background.

Catreona said...

JC, we don't see cardinals as often here as we did in Washington, and never AFAIK this time of year. They're always beautiful but, yes, especially so in the snow.