By Ginny Riedman-Dangler
A young girl glances out the window, only to be overwhelmed
With the snowstorm she sees.
She hears the whistling of the bitter, cold wind and feels fear.
It seems endless and perilous, but she needs to enter
To begin her journey.
“What can I take to keep myself safe and warm?” she ponders quietly to herself.
The girls bundles herself in a thick coat, scarf and gloves,
And takes one, sweet memory along.
Her journey begins down an icy, slippery road;
Around barren trees that reach out as if to grab her.
She feels fear, but continues on despite it.
The girl becomes angry at the thought there is no remorse
For the fear the storm brings.
But she moves on with a desire and passion in her heart.
The sun gradually peeks through the gray clouds
As she walks on with a glow and a certain knowing,
The sun empowers her with determination, a new vision and purpose,
And strengthens her once, fading spirit.
Abruptly she stops, and realizes she can see through the storm.
Things are clearer now.
The girl becomes aware of dying trees, earth cluttered with weeds
And houses boarded up, where no one can enter.
She is saddened.
Yet, this sweet memory helps her to endure the pain she faces.
She then decides to take a different path and is now hopeful
Despite the day’s coldness, for she now knows
How to keep herself protected and happy.
As the sun enters her many moments,
She invites the rays into her entire being.
The girl feels safe and inspired as she continues.
And she holds the one dear memory of her Grandmother’s love, that she began her journey with,
And numerous other memories now
In her small, gloved hand.
Ginny Riedman-Dangler is a member of Just Poets in Rochester. She has two other poems on our Community Room Blog! Ginny was published in “Before They Were Our Mothers: Voices of Women Born Before Rosie Started Riveting, ” partially funded by Saratoga Arts and the NY State Council on the Arts.
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