“It Sifts From Leaden Sieves”

My first thought this morning

A first glance out the frost-covered window -

Roads and trees were covered with snow.

Everywhere a muffled shiny glow.

Fluffy, white snow — a powder shell,

“Alabaster Wool” captures it quite well.

A nod to Emily Dickinson who could tell

so much in a few words

and our hearts were stirred.

The practical side of things was not so nice.

How to get rid of all that snow and ice?

A sudden racket in my driveway

made me jump, and ‘no way!’

My neighbor, the good Samaritan,

was already plowing away.

He cleared the driveway and my sidewalk, too.

I sighed with relief — nothing more to do.

I know I am lucky to live in a place

where neighbors still help neighbors

with such grace.