Alone by Edward Lee

The cleansing touch
of falling snow
on the land
belies the chaos it causes
to traffic and livelihoods,
old folks and the homeless;

there's a lesson there,
maybe a moral, if I was willing
to search for it,
which I might do
as soon as I finish
making this family of snow-shapes
in my neighbour’s garden,
the snow in my own garden
refusing to settle
for reasons no sky can explain to me
no matter how long I stand, silently listening,
the empty bed awaiting me - all that
awaits me - as white and life-changing
as the snow freezing my indelicate hands.

Edward Lee's poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen and Smiths Knoll.  His debut poetry collection "Playing Poohsticks On Ha'Penny Bridge" was published in 2010. He is currently working towards a second collection. He also makes musical noise under the names Ayahuasca Collective, Lewis Milne, Orson Carroll, Blinded Architect, Lego Figures Fighting, and Pale Blond Boy. His blog/website can be found at https://edwardmlee.wordpress.com