Walking Back

     Photo by Mary Bach

Snow steps carry me home,

not just the mile or two back to my house,

but all the way home

back to where Grandma waited

with warm hugs and hot chocolate,

back to the little, stone house

on the edge of town

surrounded by fields of corn,

back to my climbing tree

that reached across

the path toward the hen house,

back to my childhood.

This is for dVerse where Marina Sofia asked us to write about some aspect of the snowy weather.

November Thanks

     Words and image by Mary Bach

There is a clear, cold light

this November morning,

and last night’s powdering of snow

transforms the ridge.

The trees weave an intricate

design of branches 

studded here and there

with chickadees, jays, cardinals.

Walking through the garden

I am warmed by

your hand

in mine.

Over at dVerse Poets' Pub Brian asked us to write about something we are thankful for.  

Cabin Fever

February in Wisconsin

gets old.

This is time for tropical vacations,

this is why we are the fifth drunkest state

in the US.

Outside it’s snowing fluriously;

not the fresh, hopeful snow of December,

not the ‘each-flake-a-unique-miracle’ snow,

or even the big flakes children cut with

blunt-nosed scissors

to decorate classrooms…

just more damn snow

This is for G-man's Flash Friday 55.  Go check it out.  And, just for the record, this has been a very mild winter in Wisconsin, not much snow at all.  In fact yesterday it was about 45 degrees F (which is just not right).  It's just that 'cabin fever' time of year.

Image from stillwatertheatre.org

Isn't it Ironic...

Snow has dropped
on my Snow Drops

Winter Solstice

On the first day of winter,
the earth awakens to the cold touch of itself.
Snow knows no other recourse except
this falling, this sudden letting go...

-Laura Lush

First Snow

Last night we had a blizzard here in western Wisconsin. The entire state was advised not to travel, so we sat inside all cozy and warm watching the snow swirl and listening to the wind wail. This morning we awoke to about a foot of snow glistening in the bright morning sun. I have always felt this time of year approaching the solstice is special, whether you observe the return of the Son or the Sun. And it also brings to mind one of my favorite witer quotes:


I am younger each year at the first snow. When I see it, suddenly, in the air, all little and white and moving; then I am in love again and very young and I believe everything. - Anne Sexton