Sounds of Snow

Sounds of Snow

Silence descends

with the snow;

slowly sifts down,

insulates, and muffles.

Boots break the surface 

and crunch

across the icy crust.

Children squeal with delight

as they tumble from their houses.

Triumphant cries of "SNOW DAY!" echo.

Their sled runners slice down the hill.

They groan and huff, 

breathing in the arctic air,

dragging their toboggans,

climbing up to the top for the sole purpose 

of being hurled to the bottom once again.

More grunts and heavy breathing,

while, with soggy mittens,

they roll up snowmen heads and bellies, 

making criss-crossed trails through the yard.

Forts are built, snowball weapons stockpiled,

imaginary war is waged,

with whoops of victory and yelps of surprise

when frozen spheres splat on their intended targets.

Adults and teens groan and grunt,

as shovels bang and scrape

on sidewalks and driveways.

Loads of snow thump to the sides.

Salt pellets from cans and cups rattle down.

Plows rumble and clank over the roads.

Piles of white slush, morph to gray.

Snow melts

back to a muddy silence,

as water drips to the ground

from trees, rooftops, and gutters.

Trickle, glug, gurgle, seep gone.