A Soundtrack of Winter - Dec 15 2022

 

A Soundtrack of Winter

Dec 15 2022

Shovels

scraping driveways down to bare.

Snow blowers

revving, rattling

running rough.

Cars idling,

ice scrapers rasping,

and little kids laughing

in the fabulous snow.

And too long after

the storm has ended

the big yellow plow

comes dieseling down the street,

drowning out

everything else.

The world,

after hunkering down

for the first blizzard this year,

has all at once emerged

in the twilight murk

and gotten to work cleaning up.

There is a sense of community

in the shared adversity,

and even more

the overcoming.

All in it together

side-by-side

in the invigorating air

confers a feeling of neighbourliness

that's become increasingly rare.

Ruddy cheeked and breathing hard

emboldens us

to say hello,

commiserate,

or simply wave

at our fellow co-conspirators.

Even though

behind the high walls

of our suburban fortresses

we're on our own.

Even though

we may exchange nods

with the people next door,

know the paperboy's name

(even if it is

mostly to complain),

and admire the Christmas displays

when we're out walking the dog,

we by and large

keep to ourselves.

And the competitive sorts

whose driveways are always immaculate;

borders geometric

and the pavement thoroughly scoured.

A good bourgeois,

who clearly enjoys

the satisfaction of physical labour

takes pride in home ownership.

Not to mention the relief

that late middle age

hasn't yet caught up with him.

He stands smugly,

shovel upright in front

with his hands over the handle

and his chin resting comfortably,

surveying the work

with an approving eye;

a striking patch of black

carved from fresh white snow.

Bad back

too old

no time.

I use a hired man

and watch from indoors.