I open the door
And the cat
Usually so anxious for escape
Stops
Nose in the wind
Sniffing the unfamiliar whiteness
One paw suspended
She reconsiders
He opens the garage
To a flurry of cold
And a gusty unexpected breath
His black shoes
Become dusted in white
He is surprised
At the deepness he sees
From here
Of drifts piled
Where the door had been
He sets down his briefcase
And fumbles
For the phone in his pocket
She bounces from the window
Across the room
Still in her pajamas
Collared shirt and blue slacks
Forgotten
Excitement
In every leap
She hollers
Downstairs
That the spelling test
Won’t happen
Today
I close the door
On chills
And shovels scraping
And squeals
About fast rides
Down steep hills
Into the empty street
Carefully
I make my way
Over piles
Of crumpled hats
Damp mittens
And puddles
Of melted boot tracks
To pull a blanket
Over my lap
And open my book
Almost forgotten
The cat is curled
Beside my feet
While the world
Pauses
For snow
