Snowfall

by Elise Stuart


Snow, powerful in its silence,
falls lightly on the ground.
It covers all traces of mankind's ills,
greed, anger, violence,
the hunger to force one’s will upon another.

Could the purity of snow,
like a dream,
wash away the cruel past?
It will take more than that―
It will take small acts,
that take us out of our way,
to stand up for truth.
And innumerable acts of kindness.

Boot tracks
of a child out early,
making the first marks
on top of clean white drifts.
They lead the way,
showing us it is possible
to start over.


* * * * *

Elise Stuart is a writer of poetry and short stories. She’s facilitated numerous poetry workshops for students in Silver City schools, feeling how important it is to give voice to youth. Her first poetry book, and then her memoir, My Mother and I, We Talk Cat were both published in 2017. She lives in Silver City, New Mexico with four cats, a sweet rascal of a pup, and her piano.