One snowflake, when it falls,
is insubstantial. It melts
the moment it touches the ground.
It is beautiful as it falls,
a unique structure
of crystalline water
so perfect that when we
magnify it to see
we nearly swoon
from sheer amazement.
And yet, by itself,
a snowflake melts
the moment it touches the ground.
Only if many snowflakes fall
and cool the earth
melting themselves in the process
can one snowflake
remain intact.
And then the next one,
and the next,
and the next,
until soon there are so many
that trees are bowed to the ground
and cars are crashing on the highway
and power lines are falling down
and humans must slow down
or die.
This is not the fault of the snow,
let us be clear.
It is just being itself.
We are the ones
who must accept reality
and change.
And if we do—
if we slow down,
and learn to pay attention—
snow offers itself to us for our joy.
O the beauty of it in the quiet wood,
and on the mountain slope,
and falling like feathers from the sky!
The joy of sliding fast downhill
with people we love all around us!
One snowflake, alone,
is insubstantial. It melts
the moment it touches the ground.
Massed together,
snow has weight, and power,
and brings all of our hurrying to a halt—
and then spins us around
until we are breathless,
and our faces are turned toward joy.
Let us take a lesson from the snow.