A world of Snowy Whites

[photo taken by me many years ago.]
It snowed today.

First thing I did, after looking out my window, was go to read my all time favorite poem.
I believe it captures the essence of a first snow fall. The simplicity that snow brings and the desire that we always have for more. It is a Wallace Stevens classic and I have been fond of it for a very long time.

The Poems of Our Climate

I

Clear water in a brilliant bowl,

Pink and white carnations. The light

In the room more like a snowy air,

Reflecting snow. A newly-fallen snow

At the end of winter when afternoons return.

Pink and white carnations---one desires

So much more than that. The day itself

Is simplified: a bowl of white,

Cold, a cold porcelain, low and round,

With nothing more than the carnations there.

II

Say even that this complete simplicity

Stripped one of all one's torments, concealed

The evilly compounded, vital I

And made it fresh in a world of white,

A world of clear water, brilliant-edged,

Still one would want more, one would need more,

More than a world of white and snowy scents.

III

There would still remain the never-resting mind,

So that one would want to escape, come back

To what had been so long composed.

The imperfect is our paradise.

Note that, in this bitterness, delight,

Since the imperfect is so hot in us,

Lies in flawed words and stubborn sounds.

And yes, I believe that there is much to be learned from this poem. I invite everyone to re-read it and explore what it really means that, "the imperfect is our paradise".

On a more nostalgic note, I sledded in central park today! Swirling over the ice and hardened snow in my multiple layers that still seemed to let all cold air through to my insides. Amongst the little kids with their colorful hats and gloves, I too was a child today. A fun moment to be so carefree with great friends! After much fun in the snow, and many full body laughs as we watched child after child get crashed into by other children on their sleds [poor navigation skills] we headed in to a cosy cafe, where twinkle lights hung so purposefully on the windows covered in ice. It was in that cafe, warm chai tea in hand, that I was able to breathe for a moment; realizing how lucky I am to have moments such as these. And although I wished I could go indoors, bake some chocolate chip cookies and watch a movie or two with a good roommate or friend, it can't always be so perfect. So I boarded the subway train back downtown to my apartment alone and curled up on my couch, as I often do.
A wonderful day, even if only parts of it seemed so.