The Snows Kept Falling

Nothing pushes back
The midnight snows
In Iowa.
Each flake is alive
Has purpose
Is determined to sweep away
Every human traveler.

My little car followed the ruts

Carved by large trucks
Lumbering
Like the last dinosaurs on earth.

I prayed like a saint

Destined to die
Permitted a few
Our Fathers
And Hail Marys
Before the sentence
Is executed.

Morning came agonizingly slowly

The skies transforming
Into the pale colors
Of spoiled milk.

I took an exit some blessed soul

Had plowed.
Collapsing into a booth
In the back of a truck stop
I drank strong coffee
Wrapping my stiff hands
Around the warm cup
Glad to be alive
Even as the snows
Kept falling.