winter.
then spring
supposedly a
time of renewal
i think everyone forgets
about the time in between…
in this between time,
the snow remains
only where it
was once piled high,
and to call it
snow now is a
little misleading.
yes, there is snow
somewhere in there,
but as i walk,
i see
piles of dirt and debris.
like a glacier,
the snow retreats,
depositing the detritus
trapped months ago
by a long-lasting winter.
there’s a flat pumpkin.
several beer bottles.
cigarette butts.
candy wrappers.
leaves, never raked up.
and covering the grass?
a thin layer of mold.
now in the middle of
a parking lot,
this retreating
glacier has left behind
countless miniature lakes,
lakes that will soon
dry up,
making
the drive through
the parking lot more
than a little treacherous.
“it’s so ugly,” i said.
but he reminded me
that this, like everything
else, is a matter
of perspective.
“the dirty snow i see signals the end.”
i hadn’t really thought
about it that way.
where i now live
there is no end.
and no beginning.
no cycle.
no seasons.
and i’m okay with that.
but here, there
is hope in this
cycle of change.
and here, hope that
winter will end is
as close to
religion as most of them
will ever get.
17 Comments
This was really good Matt, you are a great writer.
Wow. You’re an unbelievable writer. Thank you.
i love this perspective
So true. I love our seasons in the midwest. I’m always looking foward to the next one. And I also love how we start pulling out the spring jackets when it hits 45, but in the fall we are throwing hats at our kids when it’s 50.
So well put. I could not have said it better myself. We are experiencing that right now– althrough it is ugly… it is also hope..of warm weather.
talent
All our life’s a cycle, isn’t it? Look at the cycles you have been through in the last couple of years. You are a talented writer, no doubt.
I love finding these beautifully written gems. I love your insights and your talent is increasing in capturing the profound with simple words.
I was beginning to experience some major Matt and Maddy withdrawal with such a long break between posts. Today has been full of these gems to ponder and I’m happy for the chance to simply read and mull them over in all their layers.
Hope you and Maddy have a fatanbulous trip à Paris, mon ami-étranger.
I absolutely love that last line!
God help us if winter doesn’t end!
First timer here…beautiful words Matt
PS- I live 2 miles from Liquor Lyles-sad I missed meeting you!
This weekend I took to reading your entire blog beginning to end (EVERY WORD!!!). I had heard about you before but had never taken the time to read. Now I know why! I couldn’t put my computer down until a read everything and got up to date. (to the dismay of my family!! My husband laughed and said “Now I know how you feel when I get sucked into the computer!!!”)You are amazing. Maddy is so incredibly blessed to have you. Liz was blessed to have you for what I am sure was the most amazing 12 years of her life. And Brooke, she is blessed to share life with you now. I am so happy that you are happy.
My parents raised me with the notion that if anything were to ever happen to one of them they would want the other to move on and build a life after the fact. They felt the sign of a happy marriage was that the remaining spouse wanted to experience that love and friendship again. This always stuck with me. My husband and I have discussed this many times. I would want him to find true happiness and companionship again and I would want my children to have a “mother” in their life. As scary as this all sounds true happiness and love must live on in order to remember where it all started! I hope and pray that you continue to be happy and enjoy all that life has to offer. You have another “hooked” blog reader. FYI I can’t wait to read your book.
just beautiful
you see life through a lovely view…thankyou
so true in the MN. so so true.
Oh shit, that’s going to happen again soon…damn ND winter.