First Snow

they can’t reach the water 
in their arms. Not all that

symbolic I suppose
            it’s a kind 

of disastrous ash to 
the crickets or

someone in old-fashioned 
clothes holding 

a bag of flour that 
blew up in their face

Snow comes off in
bits of sun, takes 

the dumbfounded 
leaves with it and 

now it's   boney 
      arms and winter
if they like it or not.

I knew this lady,
she'd go out and shake

the branches with a 
pole when the snow was

just new.