Snowslush

Snowslush

by Gideon Burton

So many metric tons of springtime snow

lay heavy on the Wasatch mountains, dense

with runoff ready to cascade below

as soon as weather breaks the crystals, tense

with holding latticed diamonds smooth and still.

The aching acres wide and white will rush

from warming alpine altitudes to fill

the bouldered rivers with their thinning slush.

But on this April afternoon it waits,

allows a kind of surfing down its hide

from skiers loath to change their winter states,

content to linger on the mountain's side.

     In airy snowy powder I may thrive

     But even snowslush keeps ski bums alive.


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