Snowflower [Carnival]

Snow Crocuses Photo by SimplySaren

Crocus

naked branches scratch the leaden sky that bears down upon
necks bent against winter's bite
and people rush in, stamping, shivering, unraveling
scarves and chills
in the welcome warmth that is home.
the long months of digging out from beneath the oppressive snow
grow tedious after the cheer of the holidays is passed
and the white
Christmas
you wished for (when will it END?)
has become tarnished, traffic painting it
carbon monoxide black.
Just when you thought the tip of your nose would never thaw,
the sky clears
the white gives way to muck that's almost worse than the snow that still lingers in places
and blessed March
brings purplewhiteyellow messengers of hope
daring to push delicate petals through the crystals and muck
and for the first time since the fluffy flakes first limned the trees in white
and took your frosted breath away
you remember to
stop
and
look