A Snowman's Hold

snowman three meters high an inelegant formation of grizzled snow packed in lumps needing refinement stubby tree-branch arms glutching fastened balloons, blue and yellow bobbing in the wet licks of wind snowman towering, gently twisted desperate grit to thwart a winter's thaw as blue and yellow balloons bounce near an icy chest like a slow tempo beat of heart plundered sense of capture quirky resilient balloons scripted bits of childhood charm not yet swept aside by tempest nearby snatched away by breezes one red balloon traces the street gutter like a beggar foraging returnable cans red balloon smitten with blotches of mud deflating in the mercenary chill its gentle sway like a cheeky concept of self unrestrained in the vagrancy of night Poem composed February 7, 2023