Absences-Donald Justice

Sometimes, for me, the appeal of a poem lies in the title. That was the case with this one. Well, the first line played a part too since it’s cold outside but not quite snowing(where I live). As always, enjoy! And stay warm.

It’s snowing this afternoon and there are no flowers.

There is only this sound of falling, quiet and remote,

Like the memory of scales descending the white keys

Of a childhood piano—outside the window, palms!

And the heavy head of the cereus, inclining,

Soon to let down its white or yellow-white.

Now, only these poor snow-flowers in a heap,

Like the memory of a white dress cast down . . .

So much has fallen.

And I, who have listened for a step

All afternoon, hear it now, but already falling away,

Already in memory. And the terrible scales descending

On the silent piano; the snow; and the absent flowers

abounding.

IS THERE ANYTHING SADDER THAN DIRTY SNOW?

Last week, I arrived in Philadelphia in the middle of a snow storm. I had a major emergency and had to hop a train to get there. I knew ahead of time that snow was expected so I was prepared, or so I thought. Turns out, I forgot my gloves but that’s no big deal. At any rate I was not at all ready for the cold of this weather; especially since I’ve spent so much time outside in it. I have trudged through the snow for food, to visit the purpose for this impromptu trip and to shop. And I have enjoyed almost every moment of it.

It’s my fault really because I had been lamenting the lack of “real winter” in Northeastern North Carolina. I was born in December, I’m a winter baby, I normally love it, even walking in the snow and especially wearing my winter coats which I don’t get the chance to do that often in my little corner of North Carolina. A few nights ago as I was making a quick visit to Whole Foods and Target I lamented the existence of dirty snow. I actually uttered the title of this post because in the winter I don’t think that there’s anything more beautiful than freshly fallen snow. And nothing sadder than the dirty pileups found at the curbs.