Snow dropped by for a chat — finally.
But as the sun that tracked it soon rained down,
I knew our time together
Would evaporate as quickly
As a snowflake melts in a toasty palm,
Freshly freed from its mitten.
We sped out to gather it in our waterproof nets, to
Shape and
Mold and
Scoop and
Sculpt,
Creating the fantasy snowman we'd been devising all season:
Ten-feet tall — bigger than anyone!
Carrot for a nose with coal for eyes — what's coal?
A fur-lined ski hat with fleecy ear flaps,
A quilted scarf — because necks can get so cold,
And a necktie — because sometimes he likes to dress fancy.
Interesting gravel for buttons,
And a real smile with teeth — let's find some!
Arms that move so he can play with us.
That's all.
Our reality formed more sweetly:
A snow bump, not more than ten inches tall,
Two wood-chip eyes and a wood-chip nose,
A shredded-bark mouth which blew away,
Stick arms that did not throw a ball, or even catch one.
A folded hat of green construction paper, chosen to match the grass reappearing around it.
We proudly photographed it — our first snowman of the season.
Just wait until the snow's next social call...
This is my second Sunday Scribblings. You can check out all posts on this week's topic, "fantasy," here.
Very nice!
"As a snowflake melts in a toasty palm,
Freshly freed from its mitten." - don't ask me why... I just love this sentence. It was the "starter" of your story. From that point, I took off the ground and fell into the snow of childhood. Images "popped"... just like in a movie.
I'm cold now, typing this comment wthitrhhhti my gloves onononnonn! ; )
Posted by: mindblob | January 22, 2007 at 05:59 AM
Thanks, Luc! It was fun to write. I haven't written a poem in awhile, let alone something this free.
Go have some hot chocolate and defrost. ;)
Posted by: KG | January 22, 2007 at 09:31 AM
lol :)
Last year when it snowed we made little snow men as hood ornaments for all the vans :)
Posted by: Inconsequential | January 23, 2007 at 03:46 AM
Inconsequential — "hood ornaments for all the vans" — that's hilarious! I hope you photographed it. :)
And thanks for visiting!
Posted by: KG | January 23, 2007 at 09:32 AM