A Winter's Wonderland

by Charlotte Savage

Gray skies, snow drifting slowly down in large flakes;
The first winter’s storm covers shriveling leaves of autumn.
Dry fall flowers in urns beside porch steps,
Now fluffy white balls, like cotton candy.

Snow blankets shrubs and ground.
Bare branches once laden with burgundy leaves,

Now covered with whiskers snow white.
A telephone call; my plowman is ill.

I dress in warm clothing.
My shovel awaits me; I clear a path.
It is a virgin snow, not one animal track;

Not even from the chickadees that nest in my neighbor’s hedges.

The snow, soft and light, moves easily before me,
I push the wide blade forward working steadily.
Peeling off my hat, I unzip my jacket;
Body warmth escapes as I clear the snow.

The sky lightens; will the sun make an appearance?
Moments later the sky darkens and the wind picks up.
I replace my hat, tighten my scarf and zip my jacket;
Before cleaning a path for the mailman.

Suddenly, a stinging rain rips across my face,
Both hat and coat is wet and freezing.
Hurriedly, I seek the warmth of home,
And a cup of tea to warm the chill in my bones.

The whistle of the kettle tears me away from my window;
Icy wind whips freezing rain against the glass.
Horns honking, drivers impatient to reach home,
Automobiles moving at a snail’s pace.

 
My tea poured, I inhale the aroma of jasmine.
Slowly sipping it, I again return to the window-- it is snowing again.
The wind howls, the snow deepens, visibility is a white-out;
No longer can I see the traffic lights at the corner.

I hear thunder such as one hears in a summer’s rain storm;

A flash, could it be lightning?
No cars are on the road-- there is eerie silence;
Except for an occasional plow.

Finally the snow ends;

I will put off shoveling until tomorrow.

Later, I remember the mid- afternoon rain,

It will freeze by morning.

The storm door is held fast by a snow drift.

Inch by inch I push the door free and shovel a narrow path;

The snow is heavy, I can go no further.

My cell phone rings; hurray! my plowman is sending a friend.

At sundown, I once more look out my window.

My neighbor’s snow covered roof is silhouetted against a fiery pink and yellow sky.

A wintery sky so different from anything seen before.
Like an embellished picture postcard. 

I reach for my ever ready camera to capture for posterity—

This magnificent Winter Wonderland.

©2018 Charlotte Savage all rights reserved