Snow for Abbie

Abbie fizzed with excitement when

I told her there could be snow this

weekend, her beautiful face folding up

into the precious smiles of childhood.

I awoke on Sunday and saw snow

coming down in a flow, a slow water-

fall of thick flakes that then whirled

around like blinded birds. Everywhere

was white and the clouds grey and stiff.

I thought of Abbie jumping out of bed,

remembering what I said, giddy all day

long. I saw the snow hanging in the trees;

felt the stillness of the aftersnow, the

hanging moment of childhood.

By the end of the afternoon the snow

had melted and gone, leaving white stains

and patches of beauty and the thought:

childhood passes just as quickly.