Snow Girl

“Frost and sunlight,” I recited 
Dancing underneath the sunlight
Before frost had come my way
They say you were the sage of bonds
And chemical titrations
And so from you I must have 
Taken erudition and a will to live 

Prancing on the carpet 
Snow Girl in a snow-white dress
I am fairy tales manifested 
In a wide-eyed winter wonder
You were always there to oversee 
My laughter falling into
Your benevolent embrace

At three I crayon ballerinas 
Learning how to count to ten 
Spelling out the alphabet 
Precociously attuned to rainbows 
On the daycare floors  
Together we would tumble 
Down the viridescent hills 
Playing back cassette tapes
On our way back home from school 

Peering out the window 
Whizzing past the lakefront  
In grandpa’s navy blue sedan 
We are amongst typical companions:
Water bridges letting out the sailboats 
That dot the ripples of the old marina,
A museum that’s said to hide a U-Boat, 
And the tiered fountain that glows 
Purple in the summer 
We are counting up the cars 
That have been painted blue like ours 

At four I’m an insomniac 
And so we put my books to sleep 
Sounding out the lyrics of Tchaikovsky’s lullaby 
When mama’s off adulting
You are there to wrap me in my blanket
Holding my hand close 
As it becomes your favorite star

And when they brought back David
You were there to validate my impositions 
Little brother dressed up as a little girl 
Dispirited because I did not have a sister 
Yet you were there to teach me how to love 
A little boy who always thwarted my ambitions 
As I internalized the meaning of our family 

At six I am a pedagogue 
Holding these vocabulary lessons 
From the lexicon I’ve gained at school 
You were always there to hear my stories 
Traverse majesties and kingdoms 
As your imagination taught me how to write 

At twelve the kids are mean to me at school 
Yet snuggled in the alcove 
Of our imaginary bungalow 
You were always there to serve me tea
From you I always heard that friendship
Is a rarity exceeding caviar and diamonds
Yet you were always friend to me  

You were first to hear of all my boyfriends
Held me close at eighteen when I learned 
That roses could sprout thorns 
Taught me what it meant to be a woman 
How to balance elegance and wisdom  
As you lent me power to bounce back up again

In college, separated by a score of cities,
We continued swapping stories 
Just another call away 
And when I learned that life’s pavilion 
Is made of frost 
And just a bit of sprinkled sunshine 
You were always there to dance in it with me 
And feed me yet another cup of tea 

And now, settled back in our Chicago,
I would trade the world to keep you 
In eternity
With every passing year 
I’d give away my greatest treasures 
To witness you grow old forever 
Colorfully aging
And as I re-invite the little Snow Girl 
Who always loved the kindness in your stories 
I want you to remember 
I will dance with you forever 
Because you’re not just grandma 
You are my best friend