Winter

WINTER

We had our first snow today,
she said, in her letter
Winter had been a long time coming
We had waited for it,
expected it for months
whilst shed trees stood leafless,
the wind's bite grew colder,
the nights started in the afternoon
but despite two morning of frost
and the preparations for winter,
it wasn't to be felt in our bones
till now

We had always equated winter with snow
It began with the first snow's fall
and ended with the final thaw
Less time consistent
the snow
for us
was a more practical
definition
than that of any calendar

© GERALD ENGLAND

Composed: Sheffield, 1st December 1972

Publication

1976 MEETINGS AT THE MOOR'S EDGE (West Kirkby, Headland)