Poem: Kentucky Snow

I wake up
At mother's house.
From a distance
I see white outside the window
And wonder if it's steam or fog.
But no, it's Kentucky snow!
I step outside with the dog,
Who prances around the yard with glee,
Snapping up frosty blades of grass.
I watch the world, silent,
At peace.
Only birds chirp, perched
On the wooden fence.
And the horses in the barn next door
Stamp their hooves
And snort and steam the air.
Yew branches point low toward the ground,
Heavy with wet snow.
The red leaves of the Japanese maple
Stand out in happy alarm
Against the shocking cold white
That has been deposited through the night.
I breathe in the cold air
And feel its bracing chill,
It feels so clean.
I feel so clear.