Accumulating Snow

watching the snow, slowly starting
accumulating snow, first on the lawn,
building, gathering on the needles
broad, small, firs, pines
later on the spines, the bristly needles,
the branches of the tall spruces,
a study in attachment, in surfaces,
in open spaces, the lee of the wind,
sheltered, exposed places
the driveway, the street, filling
shifting sand, wind-blown snow
falling, replacing, that which I had shoveled
smoothing my futile toil,
the footfalls of the postman,
wiping out all signs of human contact

January 1, 2009