Winter's Blanket

Since a child barely eight, I watched puffy snowflakes with dreamy eyes, seeing myself so merry... making a snowman taller than I; his nose had to be brighter than a cherry, and his cobalt eyes deeper than any sea... then lying back, I rested in delight: to admire my creation and sigh! Snow on a quiet night of December, every worry and fear I surrender... to lose myself awaiting for deeper silence: when a star will appear to announce to the hopeless world the birth of glorious joy... will it be greeted by all as that shepherd boy? Everybody was asleep, the wood-burning fireplace crackled as someone walking dredged a long path with fast footsteps...it was daddy shivering as a cat, holding in his frozen hands a box gleaming as glass; I looked closer it had a red bow that brightly glowed... and running I screamed, " Merry Christmas, dad! " Snow on a quiet night of December, make me dream of that wintry night already past... when my soft face was sprinkled with snowflakes so thick, and melting they tasted like the water of a river! Snow on a quiet December night, take no rest... keep on falling and creating a wonderland filled with mirth! Entered in Gail Angel Boyle's contest, " Winter's Blanket " Written by Andrew Crisci