First Snow

I walk down the sidewalk
Feel soft drops of precipitation
It’s too gentle, too cool to be rain
And the air is chilled on my breath

I don’t need to look up
I know the feeling
The warming chill that accompanies
The first snow

I hurry along, trying my best to avoid
The soft flake of purity
I don’t want my pain, my un-cleanliness
To taint the beauty

And finally, I’m out the way
Warm inside as I sadly the remnants on me
So I sit, staring out the window
Watching the glistening pile

It’s clean, so innocent
Having barely touched the ground
Not feeling the dirt, the pain
Hidden beneath its layers

Somehow I fall asleep, steaming breath on glass
And my first sight is of pure white
I smile, seeing the sun reflect in awe
Until my eyes lock and my heart falls

Foot print, muddy and dirty
Trailing through the field of white
And while white left
I focus on that bit

The snow is indented upon
Unclean with black and grime
Small flecks of white striving
But fail to peak through, beauty lost

I shake my head, heart cold
Such potential, such innocence lost
From uncaring; apathy of humans
Just like my own

I remember it well
The day someone muddied on my snow
Spreading the filthy darkness
Melting my chance survival

I take several deep breaths
Blowing in and out as I turn away
Trying to block out that poor dirty white
I hate first snow