They’ve been predicting snow, but I didn’t really believe it might happen until I walked my dog this morning. I walked outside and the clamor of the birds in the trees greeted me. So I wrote a villanelle about it. It’s still kind of rough, but thought I would share it.

the day before it snowed
by Michelle Garren-Flye

walking, the day before the snow 
the world hushed, except the birds
singing songs of cold with gusto

the treetops housed their show
and I stopped to hear their words
sung the day before the snow

what wisdom do they know
these creatures making records,
singing songs of cold with gusto

Nature whispers pianissimo,
Her voice lower than the birds,
“‘tis the day before the snow”

the wind may breeze and blow
but won’t cut their sound by thirds
as they sing of cold with gusto

oh, hear the song of the sparrow
for they are the wisest of the birds
listen, the day before the snow
as they sing songs of cold with gusto

Photo by Michelle Garren-Flye