Snowing up a Scene: Form, Impact and Wonder
Snowing up a Scene
Snowing up a scene,
phantom flakes floating from heaven’s portal,
sparkling, slow, suspended descent
of eddies flowing, waiting,
shimmying to nature’s floor.
Gentle frozen hexagons brush our cheeks,
vanish on contact with stone, then more
until accumulated crystals combine,
frosty air finding flurries, whipping up a storm.
Not so gentle, hectic hexagons stick to hair,
eyebrows and lashes, clouding breath,
dancing, swirling to feed the drifts,
build solid walls curtailing progress.
The force abates.
Stop! Turn around!
There lies a field protected, warmed by a blinding blanket,
unspoilt, blue-bright icing in the sun’s rays, anticipating that black dog yonder.
Unleashed, she bounds nose-first into drift, elasticated leaps plunging, emerging, in yo-yo excitement; black dog with sparkling white muzzle, first to leave marks on the virgin canvas.
AFC 2023
First Falls of Snow
The sky is a uniform grey, as though ready for a storm. It could be a storm but then you realise soft, caressing white flakes are falling in gentle apology, to cover our landscape with a bedspread of white. Snow keeps the bulbs warm before springtime, brings a hush to the air, silences the fluffed-up birds for a while as they shelter in tree and hedgerow until the precipitation is over.
As the sky becomes lighter and the sun peeks through, there is a suspended wonder and you just want to gaze around you at such a stunning scene, blue-white snow, dazzling crystals.
I want it to remain in this moment; fresh, perfect, unblemished.
An Animal’s Excitement
If you’ve ever seen a dog react to snow, you will know the unbridled joy, puzzlement and excitement it shows,
“What is this stuff? Where is the grass? Why do I sink into this cold, crunchy surface?”
The first time I saw this I had a black dog. A perfect contrast of black dog and purest white snow wants to be held in time, kept in a camera’s lens; best of all, kept in the memory for evermore as a few moments of awe, beauty and silence.
The Magic
There is little better than a vast expanse of newly fallen snow. It makes me feel as though the world is renewed, cleansed and so beautiful that it takes my breath away, even brings a tear to the eye. I want to shout to everyone,
“Don’t move! Don’t break the surface! Don’t break the magic!”
For magical it is, forever.
For more works by this author see Ann Carr on The Creative Exiles.
https://www.creativeexiles.com/author/ann/
You can also read more works by Ann Carr on Hubpages.
I'm a member of HubPages (hubpages.com/@annart) which has helped me hone my writing skills.I have published an anthology of stories and poems on the subject of 'words', entitled 'Take a Word!', designed to encourage writers to stretch their boundaries when choosing words.
It's exciting to be a part of a community which has the same passion for writing.
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- Snowing up a Scene:Form, Impact and Wonder - January 18, 2023
- The Wind out of Your Sails - January 5, 2023
I love the amount of excitement some dogs get around the snow. My children used to get just as excited but seem to have slowed down in the excitement arena lately. Enjoyable poem and wonderful presentation. Good job Ann. Jamie
Yes, my two labradors used to go bananas in the snow. They probably only saw it about three times! Then they used their noses like a snow plough.
Very much enjoyed Ann. There is nothing more pleasing than having your dog enjoy, the wonders on the winter and the first snow.
Thank you, Kurt. I’m glad you enjoyed this
Ann
You are a true wordsmith, Ann. Wonderful writing, and aren’t dogs so much fun to have around? Their enthusiasm is infectious.
You’ve made my day, John, thank you! Wordsmith is a great word and I’m thrilled that you think I am one. I happen to think that you are too, as are several on this site.
Yes, I love dogs, but won’t have another now as we’re away a lot and the pain of final parting is not something I want to go through again.
Ann
It is truly magical to see the falling snow cover the ground and to watch a dog’s reaction to the snow is a delightful experience indeed. Your skill with word play adds wonderful imagery to this piece, Ann. I agree with John – you are a true wordsmith. I enjoyed this poem. Well done.
Thank you Phyllis! What a lovely comment; I much appreciate my good friends here. It makes such a difference to have comments and to know when I’m getting it right! Sadly, HP has mostly gone by the wayside for me, except for the occasional non-fiction and travel pieces.
I have a bit more spare time at the moment so I’m honing a few more pieces from my long lists!
I hope you’re keeping well.
Ann