first snow

it stops cars
lawn mowers
time
the first snow still stops hearts
after all of these years
it’s so quiet
like everyone is just
watching
because they are
and they’re all telling each other
to watch

we spend all fall worrying over
the hard freeze
the last chance
clenching my jaw and tiptoeing around
the end of season stress
eating
and not eating

then it hits
and we melt
as the obligation of wrapping up
disappears
under that white gentle blanket
putting all plants
and worries
to bed