SNOW DAY!

Snow Day

Today I was pulled out of dreams of writing
by the ringing of the phone on the nightstand,
a 5:37 a.m. wake-up call,
an apology,
an announcement,
no school today due to
"bad" weather.

Bad weather
that deposits millions of shimmering ice crystals
on every branch,
every twig,
every deck rail.

Bad weather
that lures the children outside
to play in the cold,
creating snow forts
and snowmen
and snowbombs
with glove-covered hands.

Bad weather
that keeps children at home,
free to sleep in
and bake cookies
and sip cocoa
and play games

and forget, for a little while
about essays and tests
and who will share their table
at lunch.