Snowfall

and in the morning
as we set out
finding in the night that
snow did fall down

‘tis but a light skiff
pavement does glisten
with moisture does gleam
with thin icing of white

gladly we start out
on long morning stroll
cheeks do turn red
breath it does steam

splashing through puddles
climbing on drifts
gaily you do laugh
as you run ahead

I trudge behind you
taking it slow
knowing I’ll soon catch up
be together again

and as my eyes open
seeing the clock
reading the numbers
‘tis a quarter to four

too long are the nights now
for the hours that I sleep
time there is too much of
far more than I need

covers warm are cast back
in chill of night air
struggling to sit up
and pick up my cane

muscles are weak now
and hurt in the cold
my gait is unsteady
I am getting old

with cane I quietly
stumble around the bed
slip by your wheelchair
that stands by the bed

doctors do tell me
in voices quite hushed
that soon it will be over
and I’ll be alone

winter is coming
frozen ground far too slick
while pushing a wheelchair
on legs far too weak

yet I’ll still miss it
as I stagger along
my cane a tapping
on cold frozen ground