snow angels

I came upon a mitten

lying lost, in a hodgepodge 

of elfin footprints 

on the powdered sugar path

and on impulse, inhaled 

the smell of wool and ice 

that floated like a spell 

in the vapors of my breath:

warm familiarity, as lovely  

as a tattered storybook –

the moment suspended

. . . beautiful . . .

in purity and white

and I remembered, then: 

snow angels and thought 
of her  . . .

taking off her mitten 

and drawing halos 

with her finger

~ in loving memory ~

note:  A snow angel is the silhouette of an angel made, in fresh snow, by lying on your back and moving your arms and legs up and down, to form the shape of an angel.  

photo: mittens in snow – W. Bourke

© 2014 Wendy Bourke