some day I will begin to ski
down slopes of death's eternity
for now, I'm satisfied to be
a part of nature's scenery

shades of which I would not miss
contribute to a sense of bliss
my role in life has come to this
as I await the snowflake's kiss

that fell upon my upturned face
a tingle on that tender place
instant coolness, burning grace
she melted, gone without a trace

and lacking any concrete clues
I asked the mountains, they refuse
to shroud their own breathtaking views
in clouds of wintry, stormy hues

Nita Karpf
Oberlin, OH