Daytime appears. Fierce winds sweep in.
Can you hear the rattling of the unlocked window?
Can you see the movement of bare branched trees?
Swaying back and forth in a timed rhythm.

Middle of the day, but no sun.
A total glittering whiteness greets the eye
While mounds and mounds of snow stand still,
Covering tables and chairs and buried fence posts,
Seeming to take over in silence.

Appearing behind shielded trees, gravestones stand at attention with
Messages left somewhat hidden in protected snowfall.
Dreariness seems the mood of the day.

Forty-five inches appearing in a two week period.
White filled sidewalks, driveways and streets desire shoveling.
Sitting in silence with only the winds demanding attention.
Another day ends when darkness comes forward
and wintertime continues.

Barb Bausch graduated from the University of Iowa, where she majored in elementary education and went on to receive her master’s degree at the University of Texas in Dallas. She spent more than 30 years working with elementary students and loved the challenge of connecting with 6th-graders — teaching them to appreciate good writing and to become lifelong readers. Now Barb and her husband, Leon, are retired and living in Maine. Barb spends her time fly-fishing, sailing, painting and entertaining. She is currently writing a book on entertainment. You can learn more at http://www.beingbarb.com/.