Shoveling Out Poem by Susan Lacovara

It is an urgent time, for lovers
Bundled and buried beneath the white of winter
There is a hush, in the quiet of morning
Some mourning their holiday vacation, over,
Others, determined to forge into the year
I, listen to the tales of tortured hearts
(all quick, to dial my number, desperate for validation,
and the proverbial, 'you'll be alright'...)
All the while, remembering
both the elation, and frustration,
of figuring out love

Sub-zero, today's temperature
Unkind to those, who wish for a blazing heart
attached to theirs...
Perhaps winter has a well drawn up blueprint,
Designed to put space and time
between the starry eyed, after Christmas couples,
Preparing them for the reality,
that not all is gift wrapped gaity...
Into your life, some snow must fall
Heavy and heaping, frigid and formidable
And although traversing the trail is trying
Best to remember spring's bounty is waiting
to burst into blossoming bounty...

My steaming cup of coffee
statisfaction enough, for now,
Ushering me into the frozen facade
that is piled upon my porch...
The symphony of clangs and pangs
from baseboard heat
orchestrating the matinee
of this day's rising curtain
daring me, to brave the outside elements
Layer upon layer, kept warm...and wishful


And if love were snowflakes....
Well.....
I'd send you a blizzard!