(Poetry) Ninety-Six Ice

Beginning on a Thursday night
The rain became sleet, became ice —
Later falling as snow.On Friday there was
A give-and-take:
The gift of weather
(A day off from work)
And the inevitable tax
(The power went out).

I remember Saturday,
But I don’t much recall
What I did:
The power had been restored,
And other than skidding
And sledding, and slipping
On the powdery ground,
I can’t say I accomplished
Anything.

Sunday dawned, bright as
New days are bright,
And when sunset came
The darkness collapsed
On a day
(Did I mention
It was very cold?)
That resembled in style
The day before.

Though Monday glistened
And glared
With snow-white brightness,
Nevertheless I trudged
To my car, melted the door
And shaved the windows.
I drove to work,
Sometimes somewhat sideways.