Winter Surprised Us
Winter surprised us this mild October.
Just when I’d praised an October so sober.
Eighteenth October and snow started lightly,
Thinly – but whitely. By night we
Were covered when you’d just predicted
No winter at all,
A long, long, long fall –
And lo, winter beauty!
A plow does its duty.
Trees haven’t even shed all of their leaves
Which, snow-driven leaf,
Will freeze green in form.
Mean or indifferent: a deviant norm.
October’s too soon, too darned premature;
Caricature of what winter should be,
When and how. As for me,
I’ll just put on one more layer, more heat;
Eat more meat:
All that adapts.
I’ll vocalize more,
Use store of potential in and around;
Hope that it’s not one more sign of abuse,
Product of industry’s chilling excuse.
Snow in October astounds and confounds.
Snow in October feels downright perverse,
But sooner than later one’s forced not to curse,
But sign truce with the pines and the firs and the spruce.
The end of confusion is peace.
Winter Surprised Us 10.19.2002
Circling Round Nature; Our Times, Our Culture;
Arlene Corwin
