the only “snow” i have seen this year. the leaves cling, withered, to the tree. they are heavy and tired, despite weighing next-to-nothing. you see, the snow hasn’t come to help them let go. leaves are nervous things. they quake and shiver in the wind. these are not god’s bravest creations. leaves need the snow - dancing and pointy - to convince them that they did enough. their tree will live on without them. the arthropods need shelter from the mountain. chickadees and red-