Awoken from hibernation,

Altostratus, mother of winter,

simmers over heavens so pure,

bearing nurtured gifts of crystal blossom.

 

Ready to fly their nest above,

skies cradle to the growth,

now is their time to shine,

ready to quilt Earth’s duvet.

 

Freefalling like a conscious daydream,

swooning gently to land below,

each flake has its own destiny,

their advent will be known.

 

And each speck spells a journey,

glistening singularity,

to stand out from the flock,

yet work as one snug team.

 

The first lick of the ground,

is tender as love’s kiss.

The feeling first is foreign,

a sugar sweet disarray.

 

Then blossoming just like magic,

feelings flood back to you.

To reminisce in such innocent youth,

your memories freshly baked.

 

A sentimental reminiscence,

which comes round once a year.

A pearl dusted atlas,

a fostered welcoming.

 

Once her children settle down,

to rest on plains below,

Altostratus their mother,

will bid her last farewell.

 

Their refuge will kindle laughter,

a reason to rejoice,

with friends who share the passion,

for beauty pure and white.

 

And like a phoenix rising,

their lives must sadly end.

But do not threat as next year,

A chance to rise again.

 

From faint first heartbeats,

to feeble quickening,

a snowflake is not so different to us,

one species, tailored destinies…