I closed my eyes
to summon summer back,
when the sun warmed my bare skin
and the landscape lushed green,

But I shuddered as the
warmth of the crackling fireplace,
encircled my chilled body,
bringing loving memories of

family, hot cocoa in hand,
laughing as we looked out at
the lopsided snowman we
made only a few moments ago.

I take a deep breath in,
absorbing today’s wintry scene
of contrasted white snow and
the ever darkening sky,

knowing I don’t want to miss
living in the present moment,
where the cold reflects warmth
and time to slow down and enjoy it.