Gunmetal grey shrouds our town
Down Main Street, out to the Miracle Mile, the air is laden with
a sudden scent: Snow’s a-comin’
Grown-up winter chills us senseless
There is not, nor will there ever be
enough Vitamin D
Today, it’s a snowglobe slide to a local café
comfort in a coffee mug
Soon, all will be forgiven and Mother Earth will grant us sun and shade
But outside, at this very moment
it’s colder than my Aunt Caroline
and I thank God for all my friends at the cafe
We can bitch about the snow and
sneak a little brandy into our cocoa
while the barista checks his news feed
© 2025 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For What’s Going On, the prompt was Landscape. And yeah, once in a while I write something other than politics.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Mary
Oh, I wish I had such a close cafe to go to on these days. We DID get quite a snowstorm yesterday and more is coming later today. And next week the deep freeze once again. And you are right, there is NOT enough Vitamin D this winter! Nicely penned, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Mary! Yes, one nice thing about having moved from Madison to Platteville is that it’s more intimate. Since there are fewer places to congregate, I bump into friends more often. Of course, when I have a good book, I do hide in the back! But on days like this, I love the tinkle of the bell over the door, followed by clumping boots and congenial greetings. Thanks.
Sherry Marr
I love the snowglobe slide into warmth and comfort. It is raining here today – finally – and that will hopefully melt the last of our snow and ease the slide into spring. So nice to read you, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
Same here, Sherry, always a pleasure. Your welcoming of the rain reminds me that one man’s meat is another man’s candy. Or human’s!
susanstoo
“a sudden scent: Snow’s a-comin’” Oh! I’m glad that snow scent made it into your poem! (Amy, I haven’t developed my site on this blog–that’s why I don’t take on any followers.)
Sharp Little Pencil
Susan, I’m so glad to see you here. And yes, that scent. Remember the book, Smilla’s Sense of Snow? You reminded me, there. Thanks!
Bing Yap
I’d be in that cafe everyday.
Sharp Little Pencil
See you there. First coffee is on me!
Jennifer Wagner
“colder than my Aunt Caroline” ha! I have one of those! Your cafe escape sounds perfect. I so enjoyed your poem!
Sharp Little Pencil
I would never wish that auntie thing on anyone, but I guess we’re kindred spirits! Yes, coffee soon, I hope!
purplepeninportland
The cafe sounds like a perfect place to escape to.
(It’s nice to see your name and work again, Amy.)
Sharp Little Pencil
Let’s have coffee there, soon! Even if it’s just in our mind’s eye.
purplepeninportland
I’m there!