toni stone
wonder works studio
401 buck hollow road
fairfax, vermont 05454
the chairs that sat out all winter
March 30, 1998
this year we didn’t get the wooden Adirondack chairs into the lower garage before first snow.
red and green, the two of them sat out through the frost for six months.
they did not seem to mind. it was not the coldest winter.
in the snow they added that note ofcolor we looked for, out the windows daily.
a measure of how-deep, (or not),-the-snow-was. could be seen on them.
it was up to the seat, it was up tothe armrest and one day,
ti was almost covering the whole wood frame.
as they say “it melts fast in the spring.” all the snow is gone now.
today there is a butterfly right where Steve moved the caterpillar on the snow at Groundhog Day.
it could be the same one. i saw the first fly days ago.
i never thought i would rejoice in the sight of a housefly, but they resurrect themselves from between the screen
and outside windows at just the proper time each year. tonight, i think the insects might be back on the screen.
the tulips might even be here by Easter, ifthe sun keeps shining. time to start the seeds and get the swimming pool cleaned out.
i will go out and sit in those seats today. i will sit in them both.
i will be grateful for al they went through out there ni the cold and ice
reminding me of when, i could come out again, and sit to see the mountains from my yard.
this was a seemingly fast and not so hard winter…
either that or I just don’t mind it much anymore.
