Snowflakes blowing gently,
fragile as shadows
smiling in the soft light.
So soft.
Catch them quickly in your hair
to melt them

for soon they’ll grow harder
even though the sun
is shining
and smiling
blindingly bright,
bright and harsh.

Harsh
crunchy crystals.
Jewels
shining like diamonds
hard as rock

giving way to ice
as the light starts fading
when the sun loses its smile
and we’re skidding,
sliding
slipping away,
blinded
by crystalline
tears of ice.

– Lynn White