Footprints in the Snow

Enjoy this very poignant poem written by Martin Silvester about some very special memories evoked by an old photograph

Footprints in the Snow

I found a photograph last week..amongst my mothers things,
More precious than a diamond..or even golden rings.
I’d climbed into the attic..to get the Christmas boxes down,
A yearly check on Twinkly lights..before going into town.

As I searched amongst the memories..stacking boxes by the hatch,
My eyes beheld a handbag..with a broken silver catch.
I found a box to sit on..held the handbag on my knee,
Remembering my mothers face..as it used to be.

I hadn’t looked inside the bag..after that sad time long ago,
Our children were so little then..when the grandparents had to go.
Sifting through the contents..I found a tiny diary book,
A photograph slid gently out..as I went to have a look.

It was a picture of a snowman..complete with scarf and hat,
With footprints all around him..where the snow was trampled flat.
My mother stood beside him..grandchildren cuddled in,
And granddads shadow on the snow..completed kith and kin.

On the back there was some writing..neatly written by my mum,
..Today we built a snowman..it was so great the kids could come..
So now the photograph resides..upon our mantle-shelf,
Pride of place at Christmas time..between a reindeer and an elf.

If it snows this Christmas..or sometime early in next year,
When the grandkids come to visit us..providing we’re still here!
We will take them in the garden..build a snowman..nice and slow,
And hope the memory doesn’t fade away..like our footprints in the snow.

© Martin Silvester 11/12/2016