Snow!

I laced up the running shoes today for a short run. There was a steady snowfall and it was just so peaceful and beautiful outside. I love running in the snow. As I ran, I thought about Jim the entire 3.5 miles. Jimmy loved the snow. As kids, one of the few things that could bring us together to play without bickering was fresh snow. We'd play for hours together in the backyard in the fresh snow - many times with our dog Charlie. We'd come inside and Mom would make us cocoa. Today's run was a peace-filled one. I took Kai with me. I miss Jimmy terribly, but this morning running in the snow, I felt as if he was there with me - enjoying the snow, the quiet, the peace.

Today's snowfall in our backyard

I found a poem about the snow I really liked. It was posted with permission on the Web site I found it on. I just gave credit where credit was due.

Snow

Snow falling. Fallen snow.
Night windless, roadways white.
White the branches and the earth.
The special silence of a snowy night
Stopping what we ordinarily do.
We feel no need, the whiteness is enough.
Were we lonely? We are no more.
Here's a peace that's free of cloying,
This calming plainness over all.

What mystery is unfolding here?
How does the innocence of season,
Mere concurrence of the elements,
Bring hope? Because the rain has chilled?

But it also covers death, the fallen,
Guilt. Jars memory. Melts.
And it will turn to filth.
Here is winter after all, the grave
Of growing-and the poor are cold.

Still promises are stirring,
Resolution's aura swells.
While the moment's white and still,
We will survive. Though brief
The respite, whatever ails us will
Stand aside. While snowing, while quiet.

10/8-ll/24/95, 2/10-2/13/98, 12/18/06
Copyright 1995, 2006 by Maurice Leiter