Poem: Hope of Snow

Christmas is the hardest time to be alone.

Hope of Snow Prague is quiet, this Christmas-Eve day,     the recent snow dissolved     into a mild light rain,     while Chicago opens its stores     for the final mad rush Every escalator at Water Tower Place     jammed with last-minute shoppers But it’s hushed in this river city,     the last Christmas-carp     from the lakes of Trebon     taken home for a traditional dinner In a moment, the rain outside my window     has turned to gentle snow,     collecting in the gutters Scattered trams on holiday-schedule     track their way in winding ribbons     and there’s a rustle across the city     of wrapping paper and secrecy Tonight I’ll walk these cobbled streets,     as Chicago closes down Seven time-zones of troubled peace away Europe or America, we share a hope     for softly falling snow at Christmas     and offer up our smiles     and brightly wrapped packages     to the same excited children Here in Prague and there in Chicago,     we are all children in the snow

This poem is included in Jim Freeman's poetry collection CORNER OF MY MIND available here in print or as an e-Book in your favorite formats.