storming

all around the north country

wild 

clouds, snow, wind

 it started out cold and strangely golden 

early just after dawn

and the clouds were strange colors.

 i spotted two ends of a snowbow

 as i drove down the amish road.

 all day we heard stories of 

blizzard-like conditions nearby

(lake ontario)

and on the other big lake

(lake erie)

 so i drove home with courage and a high glorious joy

hoping to avoid whiteouts,

relieved to be going home to warm up the house

for whatever weather arrives.

and on the road

a pair of snow buntings

 they are back

  having traveled south for the winter.

i soon saw a flock

gathered on the gravel shoulders.

 there were some prints last night

i used up the last of the late fall harvests

before the snow came.

 and here, 

back home,

there's a snow dance

a crazy little spiral in our four inches or so.