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It comes in the quiet of a timely drift,
these falling flurries of flakes that sift
over ground turned brown in a seasonal shift
from gold to cold, relieved of reaping.
The first snow seldom amounts to much,
a dusting so slight it melts at touch
or thinly coats brush, rooftops and such
in swipes of white, the moment keeping.
So different from the last snow of Spring—
which always surprises, like a reckoning—
this first snow of many, a reminder to bring
warm ways to days suited for sleeping...
© by Mike Orlock.
Used with the author’s permission.
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Mike Orlock is a retired high school English and American History teacher who divides his time between the Chicago suburbs and a vacation home in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. He has been married for 49 years to his high school sweetheart and inspiration, Liz, and greatly enjoys being grandfather to five beautiful granddaughters who keep him, he says, "jumping like a frog on a hot skillet." Mike's short stories, poems, and reviews have appeared in a variety of publications and he was Poet Laureate of Door County, Wisconsin from 2021 - 2023. Mike's latest book is Toes, Toads, Tulips & Turtles, released in fall of 2023.
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Wilda Morris:
Wonderful winter poem; great choice of form and vocabulary.
Posted 01/26/2024 10:08 AM
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Jancan:
Such vivid, expressive descriptions! Lovely!
Posted 01/25/2024 10:50 PM
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Lori Levy:
Like the way rhyming works in the poem and the images of the snow.
Posted 01/25/2024 02:22 PM
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michael escoubas:
Another triumph, Mike. Great use of rhyme in this piece.
Posted 01/25/2024 11:31 AM
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Sharon Waller Knutson:
I am a Mike Orlock fan. This musical, visual, sensual poem shows the soft and sensitive side of him that I love. Like a pianist, he hit the right notes on the right keys and captured a snowy day with perfect timing.
Posted 01/25/2024 10:57 AM
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cork:
Great mechanics!
Posted 01/25/2024 09:30 AM
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Judy:
Altogether lovely!
Posted 01/25/2024 09:29 AM
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Darrell Arnold:
Nice job, Mike. Not only do I like the beauty your descriptive phrasing invokes, but I very much like the effort you put into rhyming, metering, and clever alliteration. This, to me, is a prime example of how poetry should be done. Were I teaching a class in writing poetry, this would be a beautiful example of what my students should strive for.
Posted 01/25/2024 09:09 AM
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David:
Very nice. Love the musicality of this poem.
Posted 01/25/2024 08:57 AM
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Tasha52:
You just became my favorite poet! I just purchased a copy of each of your books/kindle of poetry on Amazon! Thank you!
Posted 01/25/2024 08:46 AM
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peggy.turnbull:
Beautifully crafted, this poem gives me a sense of the calm and peace that a snowy day can bring. The contrast between late spring snow and new winter snow brought me a revelation. Ive never compared them before. Winter, yes. But isolating snowits given me a lot to think about.
Posted 01/25/2024 08:44 AM
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bobbi43sml@aol.com:
The lovely lilt of your rhyming scheme mimics the
timely drift of that first fall I love this .. feels as refreshing on the ear as those first flakes can feel on an outstretched tongue . Thank you thank you
Posted 01/25/2024 07:48 AM
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Larry Schug:
You're paying attention, Mike!
Posted 01/25/2024 07:31 AM
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