My Winter

There is no greater perfection than being young in Winter
to watch the snow quietly fall, to build upon itself
Like the days when I was young and Winter came


From the dark gray clouds, white flat ornaments fell
We would recklessly run
trying to catch them on our warm tongues, stumbling
falling in slow motion into the snow, laughing
doing what boys do

Our truest joy was riding sleds

There was a hill with a winding path,
from top to bottom
After Christmas, every boy would drag their family's tree
to the hilltop and toss it onto a bonfire
that sometimes got out of control
doing what boys do, laughing

We would race our sleds, some old, some new
and would try to stay on the narrow path
winding down the hill, between tall naked trees
doing what boys do

It would hurt if you hit one
and if new you didn't want to drag it home...to dad

At the bottom, the path forked
the path to the left would dip and rise
lifting you on to a frozen road
where you sled would glide for hundreds of yards
If you were brave you would take the fork to the right
where you had a steep drop that increased your speed
taking you to a ledge eight feet above a creek
Sometimes it was frozen, sometimes not
and if you couldn't stop your sled
you would fly over into the creek
if that happened all the boys would rush down
peer over the cliff and if we saw signs of life
we would laugh
doing what boys do

When Winter came and the snow fell
When we were young and wanted to laugh
doing what boys do...playing

11/17/17
contest My Winter
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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Barden Avatar
December 15, 2017 at 9:23 PM
A sincere congrats on your well-deserved win, Frederic - blessings to you ... this is superb, Brother, and takes me back! :-)
Pett Avatar
December 1, 2017 at 7:38 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved win Frederic, great poem brought back memories of my childhood. :))
Medders Tobechi Avatar
November 29, 2017 at 10:38 AM
You really let the words flow to recreate a meaningful memory. Boys do live dangerously. Glad I had girls. Congratulations on your win.
Wigley Avatar
November 29, 2017 at 2:15 AM
I superb recollection for us lads, Frederic, and that first line is an absolute belter. Congrats on your placement in my contest. Regards, Viv
Cornish Avatar
November 21, 2017 at 7:22 PM
You took me back Federic to my Flexible Flier---it was my ship on the snow--great memories shared here
Sands Avatar
November 17, 2017 at 6:33 PM
What fun to read your poem taking us through these precious memories Frederic. Thanks for sharing and good luck in the contest :)
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