Snow

The first snowflakes begin to fall Slowly, gently one after the other They fall to the ground and begin To carpet all that lay beneath them. Young eyes look in amazement and Wonder, and old eyes look and sigh, They have seen it all before over the Countless number years, or decades. People walking hearing the snow crunch Underfoot, and with an occasional slip, Greet friends that have a dusting of snow On their head and shoulder. Vehicles moving slowly and ponderously Along tracks in the snow others left Trying not to slip and slide into anything Else equally struggling to cope. Cold hands open snow covered garden Gates. The garden now covered with a Blanket of deep snow with plants buried Or sigh bowing under its weight. In the park young children toboggining Down slopes laughing happily with fun. Cross-country skiers strike out exploring Snow covered open ground. Slowly, as the days pass, people begin to Tire of the snow. It has lost its brilliant Whiteness and is looking dirty with Paths cleared along slippery pavements. The slow thaw with melted snow forming Puddles on roads and paths. The park no Longer has children on their toboggans, No more cross-country skier's exploring. The snow now turning to slush as the thaw Enters its final stage. The park now muddy With water now dripping everywhere. The snow now gone, at least, until next year.