Signifying nothing

I was bemoaning a couple of weeks ago to friend and secret Signifying nothing reader Elisa the Snuggie that allows you to look like a blame fool in the privacy of your own home: Elisa was aghast at this product (which she had seen advertised on television), so much so that I threatened to buy her one. I know she secretly wants one. Who doesn't want to look like a gaudy Capucin monk watching television, knitting, cuddling, or reading? Yet again given the artic blast we're going to experience this weekend, the Snuggie might not look that bad. Nah. It is the clothing epitome of "Put a Donk on It."

The title for my post today is taken from Jeremiah Johnson , an epic western filmed right here in glorious and now snowbound Utah. What? We are ten days into spring at there is four inches of new snow at my house? That's right. I know there are those of you out there griping about this, but I kind of like it. It is like the winter is not going to go without a fight: that spring (which hasn't even taken a foothold yet) will just have to lump it a while longer. As I recall there was a lot of snow in Jeremiah Johnson too.

It is snowing and I sit by my window reading a book of winter haiku. Here is a haiku by Miura Yuzuru Snow on top Lengthens The height of the gateposts. Here is one by Ono Rinka A winter shower driving down-- Turmeric flowers In full bloom. And, finally, we have Nozawa Setsuko Heaven and earth Convulsing in the same breath Let fall a tremendous snow. I've always liked to sit and watch snow. It is a good diversion. One feels so much comfort by snow, even though it is, of course, cold and treacherous. It covers the world, making it all fresh and new, yet at the same time killing the last remnants of fall. Roads are slick. People fall on concrete. The snow falls in swirling, beautiful patterns, smoothing even that out. It is calming to sit by the window as the snow falls and read. So I take up my pencil and write in the margin next to the three poems: Snow falls quietly As I read by the window Words settle my mind.