"from Leaden Sieves --- "

First snow of the season, Saint-Lazare, Québec. photo by Catherine Chandler

It sifts from Leaden Sieves - (311) Emily Dickinson, 1830 - 1886   It sifts from Leaden Sieves - It powders all the Wood. It fills with Alabaster Wool The Wrinkles of the Road - It makes an Even Face Of Mountain, and of Plain - Unbroken Forehead from the East Unto the East again - It reaches to the Fence - It wraps it Rail by Rail Till it is lost in Fleeces - It deals Celestial Vail To Stump, and Stack - and Stem - A Summer’s empty Room - Acres of Joints, where Harvests were, Recordless, but for them - It Ruffles Wrists of Posts As Ankles of a Queen - Then stills its Artisans - like Ghosts - Denying they have been -