My Winter

Huddled over that old black radio waiting for the final announcement School canceled tomorrow! Bedtime? We actually have to SLEEP? Where am I? Is that light coming from... No-No! Don't look out the window! Then-how-what-when-where? Oh me oh my, the door, the front door Some has swept up onto the porch And the steps, the steps! Breathe a deep, icy breath first Go ahead now, look on out and note how everything is smothered, smothered, muffled and quieted by the blanket that covers all, covers all but the perfect silence Breath another deep, icy breath Go ahead now, step on out Step out in the yard and note dainty, delicate bird tracks And rabbit footprints too? (How DARE they get here first?) Fence posts measure how much Wearing comical, tilted hats Pesky sprinkles of sleet tease and tickle my nose Like a magical wide-awake dream, familiar yet so unfamiliar A brand-spanking new kingdom of white custom recreated just for me Oh, you BAD little boy! Will you again tromp out and ruin Mother Nature's picture of perfection and forever scar this eternal moment? Oh yes, I believe you will Hurry! Get dressed! Now GO