Nearing Solstice

you do not understand how light it can be at 5:40 am, even in the far north, even on December 20th
*the snow came down about us in piles of bright and filled the sky and air and trees with cat vision
a solitary skier moved down the snowbound street, feasting on the beauty and quiet and solstice peace
*snowflake by snowflake, unique--ever so unique, with not a sound to interrupt her luminous privacy