December is approaching with gelid gusts,
soon the candid snow will spread its white blanket
and dominate the lifeless and desolate land;
nevertheless, those pallid swifts with wide wings
search for warmer places livelier and more pleasant.
Gianni and Lucy follow their flight and look sad,
no birds flying around while they build with fast hands
a fat snowman with a tomato nose and cherry eyes;
it's not what they had in mind, or saw in Winterland!
" We need a wool cap to cover his head and he'll stay warm,
if ravens come by, they'll eat the cherry and tomato and deform
his face not hearing his sobs and his tears turning to ice;
what an unhappy snowman Jerry would be without eyes and nose...
oh, if only glue could hold them in place, we would get some!"
And through the entire afternoon, they watched their snowman
ready to send away any intruders with a huge rolling pin.
Those pallid swifts with wide wings have left the hushful Whitestone*,
and proud of their work, the creators of the chubby snowman
smile and clap their hands when more snow comes down;
their dream is realized, mom rewards them with an ice cream cone!
* Whitestone, Queens, NY
The air it seems is napping,
It is quiet as a death—
The whispered wheeze of evening,
Muted as the final breath.
Like the hushful stir of shadow,
Sleeping reticent, and shy—
The quiescence of a foggy night,
Lifeless as an empty sky.
As soundless as a snowflake
Landing lightly on a hill—
Just as silent as a moonbeam,
And every bit as still.
How grand would be a wisp if wind,
How delightful too, the sound—
If only this, an autumn leaf
As it lights upon the ground.
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