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Robert Lindner
Something Old, Something New
Something is new today, something is old.
The new thing is winter and it’s too cold
To take a walk in the wind and the snow.
I’m feeling cooped up. I’ve nowhere to go.
And I am what is old, so I look through
The window at pines swaying in the new
Winter’s wind and snow that’s blowing around.
And the wind howls with an ominous sound.
I’ve been out in weather much worse than this.
Though I was younger and now I will miss
Cross country skiing in deep winter snow.
Up high in the mountains and down below.
On trails through the woods or on a golf course.
Along a spring with a lake as it’s source.
Then around the lake in a city park,
With bright lights, so you can ski after dark.
With the temperature well below freezing,
I’d go out without coughing or sneezing.
I was young then and the cold was not that hard
To take. We’d build snowmen out in the yard
With our children in their snow suits we’d slide
Down the hill on a toboggan or glide,
Glide on our cross country skis to get warm,
In beautiful powder after a storm.
But something is old today and it’s me.
So cold and snow’s not where I want to be.
I’ll sit by the fire with a hot toddy,
Humming tunes about sleigh bells and frosty
The snowman and watch the snow in the air,
And be glad I’m in here and not out there.
And I will not be sorry that I’m here,
Inside and warm at the end of the year.
I’ll watch the new snow, as winter’s begun,
And have nostalgia for some winter fun.
Fun in the snow on horseback or on skis
Or on snowmobiles on trails through the trees.
They’re much too loud, but they’ll get you up hill,
Like a ride on a sled pulled by snowcat will
Take you up the mountain for memories
Of a cabin, dinner and cross country skis.
But those are old stories, and today I
Will look out the window, watch time go by,
And dream of the past and wish for the spring.
Since something is old and I’m that something.
But, as it always has, the time will pass.
And I will find spring in my window glass.
And this winter will be a memory.
But it’s just begun so I’ll wait and see
How cold it will get and how much snow there
Will be to shovel. I’ll shovel with care
For the something that’s old. And knows it’s not
Good for it to get too cold or too hot.
But cold, snow and ice is what winter brings.
Winter is not nice to us old somethings.
But I can put on some layers and boots,
And still get outside in my old snowsuits.
Today, I’ll wait, have a hot cup of tea
Let boots and snow suits be a memory
Of winters past and let winter’s present be
What it will be. There’s still January
And February and March to get through
Before spring returns to warm and renew
The flowers and trees and spring memories
Which are a different reason to sneeze
Than the winter’s cold, which I’m hiding from,
Though I know there’s lots of winter to come.
With snowy days, though last year there were few
After December, but this year is new
And I am old so I can remember
When lots of snow came after December.
Something old, something new, me and the snow
And the cold to get through. Three months to go.
Happy Winter
ROBERT
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