first snow

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.
--Elizabeth Coatsworth

I was surprised to find large patches of snow still remaining atop Unaka Mountain, a week and a half after the remnants of Hurricane Sandy came through the Appalachians. "Blue" was delighted.