<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div><div><b>“The Silence Of The Snow” </b>by Ruth D. Velenski</div><div><br></div><div>The night sky is a dull grey white.</div><div>An opaque dust sheet floats so light</div><div>Upon the roofs and lamps and cars.</div><div>It settles so softly like falling stars.</div><div><br></div><div>It sneaks in crevices and onto window sills.</div><div>Piles up in soft layers over roads and hills,</div><div>Weighs down branches, envelopes bark, </div><div>Skips and flutters across the depth of dark.</div><div><br></div><div>With dawn a scene of raw meringue.</div><div>From bough and bridge and roof does hang.</div><div>Through night's deep slumber - a silent world</div><div>Descended - a ghostly shroud unfurled.</div><div><br></div><div>In slow motion, life begins to show.</div><div>The traffic crawls in a funereal row.</div><div>Children squeal in soundless delight.</div><div>Pedestrians slide in voiceless fright.</div><div><br></div><div>A world transformed into monochrome,</div><div>An aerosol sky spraying its white foam,</div><div>Floating in breathless, boundless speed,</div><div>Submerging all with voracious greed.</div></div><div><br></div>———————————————<br><br><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div></div></div></body></html>