Soldiers In Arms

Virgin white snow, crumpling beneath adult feet,

Reminding me of bygone days, childhood friends in my Street.

Pull back the curtains; child eyes catch a tumbling snowflake.

‘Quick Mum, my gloves mum!’ snowman awaits to take shape.

I dash outside leaving crunched footsteps behind,

Fistfuls of snow, an ice treasure to find.

Gathering heaps of snow, I clear Dad’s parked car,

Darting from sill to sill but I won’t venture too far.

I’ve a fortress to make before the pending fight,

Soon: others will come to drench me in ice-cold white.

The door creaks open against the snowy drift, I’m tense, I take aim. 

Within seconds, several snowballs fly and we all join in the same.

I hurl my stash and dive into the shimmering white snow,

A friend barks orders. ‘Quick, go!’

Forged cannonballs fire, volleys of ice from everywhere.

Outnumbered, I take hits in the face, life is so unfair.

Reinforcements, I need them fast,

At this rate I’m covered, I won’t last.

Another door opens, are they friend or foe?

A sheepish glance tells all, they duck down low.

They see I’m defeated, the battle loser and soon to break.

Drenched in icy water, I plead, for heavens sake.

Yet, its all good fun, I long for those days

When I had no cares and the childhood memory stays.

What became of my snowy soldiers in arms, them of the snow?

Do they twirl in time with each snowflake, alas I’ll never know.

So onward I tread careful not to slip, 

I lose my balance, fall and turn back over flip. 

Time slows down, it freezes, I beam a wide grin,

For I have never forgotten the child within!