-- The Scent of Snow --

John Herlihy

In the surprise of winter lies a secret to know,

In the absence of smell lies the scent of snow.

The trees in the landscape laid stark and bare,

Winter tells a tale of death that seems to stare.

The flakes began to descend as a glorious sight,

Covering winter’s nakedness in a pristine white.

The silence deafening, not a sound to be heard,

Broken at times with the voice of a forlorn bird.

All the dirt and dust of air at first swept away,

Grey clouds there overhead seemingly at play.

The scent of cleanliness and freshness for sure,

In absence of foul smells, what remains is pure.

The secret of snow lies not in sight but in smell,

Recreating all the innocence God could ever tell.

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(c) John Herlihy 14 July 2019