and suddenly snow!

It’s April,
and snow
is screaming sideways
through the sky.

White mounds on
spring leaves
until branches
bend and break,
blocking byways,
crashing into cars.

Major sections of
highway close,
causing newcomers to
reconsider their
recent migration
to Montana.

The Sideways Science of the Middle School Student

People in Montana keep quick access to
cold weather clothing until mid June.

Middle school students, however, are peculiar beasts.
Shorts come out during April snowstorms.
Thermometers hover around the thirty degree
mark, and coats mysteriously disappear.

With flip flopped feet Brittany and her crew bounce
down the hall. “Look Mrs. Warren, we’re gonna see
how red our feet get at lunch today.” Giggles burst
from the group. I counter, “It is difficult to walk with
a bounce in your step without toes for balance. If your
toes begin to turn black, be sure to find an adult and
come back inside.” On their way out one of the girls
looks back at me. She grabs Brittany’s shoulder and
says, “Is she for real?” Brittany says, “Didn’t you know?
Mrs. Warren is a CIA operative from the planet ZH8.”
Her voice gets louder and she looks back at me,
“She thinks aliens can impart knowledge through some
kind of astral transmission.” I raise both arms toward
the girls and wiggle my fingers. They scream and exit
the building, leaving a lone pink flip flop in the middle
of the hall.

Because Love Fills Me

It is April.
Angry pixies fling
snow from the sky.

Palms pressed together,
I bow in their presence
to thank them for whitening
my world . I want
to make them smile.

Mouth open, I throw back my head
open my arms, and spin love,
appeasing the pixies.

The snow ceases,
and I laugh out loud.

Frozen Falls

The snow covered path
rises and turns
beneath our feet.
A crow follows and leads.
From ponderosa to ponderosa,
it keeps track of our trek.

Silence staggers,
when we listen
for the sound of the falls.
The crow lands
on the final rise
in the trail,
to monitor our ascent.
Caw! Caw! Caw!

It flies to the top
of Memorial Falls,
and points out the obvious.
Again and again
the crow screams
while it stands atop
the sarcophagus of water
trapped in flight.