Avalanche by David B. Prather
This has been a terrible week so far (it’s only Tuesday - wah!) and I’m rather cranky. I opened up What Have You Lost? and this was what I found.
Avalanche
By David B. Prather
This is the snow belt.
This is the snow that falls
fretful as the flicker
of our eyes when we dream.
This is were people ache
along the road in their vehicles,
cursing each and every member
of the road crew
by name. This is the pin oak
in the front lawn shivering
all night, and sometimes
all day. This is the habit
of watching clouds
throughout the afternoon,
hoping it’ll hold off
till we make it home.
This is the trickle of water
in the bathroom and kitchen
to keep the pipes from freezing.
This is the shucking sound
of neighbors out with their snow
shovels, people so thick
with clothing, and still
so cold. This is day after day
of school cancellations, and hoping
for once it would never end.
This is the old man
who sees angels dying
with he weather, and the old woman
who keeps putting him back to bed.
This is the joy of stillness,
and the sadness of solitude.
This is the snow belt.
This is the belief
that everything has a reason,
even the tiny pain
that creeps through our shoes
and into our toes.
