*An Account of Snow Settlement in the Palouse Region*

We’re believe the first explorers
melted and remain unheard of
long ago. Amidst the second wave
returned much less emissaries
than we hope, bedraggle
and declaring savage rumors
of profuse lands, roaming
with indigenous scatter peoples
and vastly uninhabiting
by winter. Enterprising souls
were launch a small escapade
of the first white settlers,
and flurries of hearsay
contradict itself with regarding
the barbarious nations:
others say they were cool
and welcome greetings,
some dangerously warm,
some that they lure from travellers
with the promise of frosty alcove
or several unwary riches,
others that red, gold, or similar
foliage are worn them over the neck
or between the waist. Soon the coils
of processions entwined
and indistinguish from one another
the crisp families blur the wind,
hills revolve like the color milk,
and a million crystal wagonwheels
creak, and sway, and drift
over the glitter and colorless
cities. From time to time
some bright and broken
arrowheads the native autumn
leaves long ago behind
still disappear beneath
the icy colonies.

 

 

 

© Alexander Dickow