Introduction:

This is our second winter in our new home. I have lived in many places throughout D.C. and Pennsylvania, but this area gets the most snow I have ever seen. We are in a very isolated and picturesque town in the Poconos mountains. It’s so snowy here that the neighboring town of Honesdale is the birth place of the song “Winter Wonderland.” The author wrote it while suffering from tuberculosis and contemplating the beauty of the park that he could see from his window.

We had a white Christmas this year, which was lovely, but now that we are solidly into January I have started telling my parish,”It’s okay! Whoever is praying for snow– you can stop now!”

Poem: Dog in the Snow

So much joy!

My heart delights to see your incandescent ecstasy as you bound through a winter wonderland

You take a big mouthful and whirl to look at me, shock written across your furry features—

As if I fed you a mouthful of ice on purpose—

As if you did not just shove your fuzzy face into the white frozen fluff

and gulp it down.

My Dear friend,

Do you trust me so much,

and have such faith in me,

that you think I have the power to protect you from the very nature of snow itself?

Soon, you tire.

Your breath comes heavily.

You look up at me with soft brown eyes

And without a word you speak volumes.

I wonder —

Do you ever miss the wild?

But then you curl up on the couch next to me

and I think–

How did a dog like you survive?

You were made for soft places,

comfortable beds,

and cozy couches.

That’s okay, dear friend, so was I.

Let it snow outside

We have each other

1/13/2025

RLH

If you would like to read more of my poetry, please be sure to check out my chapbook Through My Good Eye: A Memoir in Verse. Available on Amazon.