Let’s talk snow
Having grown up
In Wisconsin we
Learned the different
Types of snow
There’s wet snow
And dry snow
There’s blowing snow
And packing snow
There’s brittle snow
And snowglobe snow
There’s flurries and
There’s blizzard snow
There’s barely snow
And white-out snow
Snow is a
Lot like love
To most it’s
Something to avoid
But to those
That know it
Well that’s Wonderland
And one morning
When I was
Ten I opened
The curtains of
My shared bedroom
Wiped the window
Free of frost
And saw Wonderland
My world was
Covered in snow
Like a cake
Blanketed in buttercream
Frosting the pine
Tree boughs heavy
With millions of
Sparkling whipped cream
Diamonds my brothers
And I dashed
Donned in jammies
And robes out
The door skidding
And sliding laughing
Gleefully forming snowballs
Like fluffy balls
Of yarn tossing
Them at each
Other on this
First snow day
As mother greeted
Us with hot
Cocoa and marshmallows
Winter is here
Finally in Wisconsin
And ‘Ti’s the
Season when there
Stands in the
Corner or window
A memory thing
Decorated with lights
And balls sometimes
Popcorn and cranberries
Or candles candy
And kitsch it
Sits quietly absent
Of fanfare given
To royalty surrounded
By baubles trinkets
Toys all surprising
I simply stare
Watching the lights
Dance and bounce
Me surrounded by
Loved ones both
Past and present
This the long
Awaited time of
The Christmas tree
It’s this special
Time of year
When the world
Regains its innocence
When stars sparkle
Brighter in colder
Skies when Heaven
Itself falls as
Light snow covering
Everything in white
Paradise when we’re
More interested in
Giving than receiving
This season where
Sounds and smells
Spark vivid memories
Of simpler times
And especially this
Year when again
The greatest gifts
Wrapped in coats
Scarves and mittens
Find their way
Into our arms
It’s Christmas time
One of the
Hardest things in
Life that I’ve
Learned is that
Those that love
Often and loose
Are plagued by
The memories of
Those sweeter times
At first those
Memories cause gut
Wrenching pain but
As time passes
The torture moves
From my mind
To my heart
Where they sing
The joyous songs
Of having loved
Bringing great comfort
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 