First Snow

ByMerrie Dail

December
had barely finished
spelling out its name, yet
huge, wet                        
                           snowflakes                       
       silently                            
danced                              
                      to earth                          
                 through
the maritime darkness.

Outside! Outside!
Maisie pleaded. Annie
snuggled deeper into the sofa
Coco hissed:   Bedtime.
Outside, Outside. Outside!
how did she know?

First tug
set her free
summer’s collar of
brightly colored fishes
snapped and fell to the ground

Without a sound
she leapt, slowly
up into the night and
hung there suspended in time
               tasting                       
turning                                  
    smelling           
             catching
circled the lighted perimeter
then into the air.  again and again

Pale yellow pup
silently flying through the milky way
completely unaware of my presence.

December 6, 2003 – May all of us be transformed by the season!

Similar Posts

  • August Seventh

    ByMerrie Dail

    Earth so dry Beginning to relinquish hold on a landscape slowly losing the struggle to dig deep enough for life sustaining moisture – sprinklers small comfort. Into each heated night, cicadas loose a relentless, high-pitched plea – no relief and dawn arrives – gray as the day before. And yet – yet the strawberry pot…

  • Happy Birthday (my friend)

    ByMerrie Dail

    I remember paintings larger than life bold, bright colors everywhere in contrast to the quiet house Dreary Seattle days found you hands stuffed in jacket pockets wavy blonde hair dancing down the street – though not like the affected young Harkness dancers who advertised their artistry striking a pose along the seaside Married, yes and…

  • Nutcracker

    ByMerrie Dail

    Where is the nutcracker who stands sentry by the front door? or tiny train going round and round looking for Christmas? small fairy sled that’s carried generations of rosy cheeked babes sits in an upstairs corner – waiting. the cats wait too – lazing in a slice of winter sun. Now grown children pop chocolates…

  • Balancing Act

    ByMerrie Dail

    On such a May morning thoughts of New England beckon Open windows shaded by large, old trees sun filtering through the leaves cool, breezy, fresh no overt fragrance like Savannah further south Too soon June will bring us to our senses air conditioners will drone blocking all feel and sounds of the outdoors Heat and…

  • Mid-Summer Nights

    ByMerrie Dail

    The day’s hot breath lingered forcing fireflies out of the grass. Soundlessly they rose – rising blink-ing rising – pausing in the trees, slowly charting their way ever upward. Occasionally we’d catch one in an old jar, while grownups sat in lawn chairs and chatted. Mostly we just ran around small, thin arms o  u…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *