snow what

Walking yesterday on partially melted snow, I wondered: does it cover or expose? Sure, you'd think it covers. It does. Snow blankets. It covers sounds, dogshit, cigarette wrappers, broken bottles, last year's leaves, yesterday's sins. Snow covers the sleeping buds of spring under the sleeping ground, glosses over the fluvian layers of preceding snow, pushes down the crocuses a few more weeks (maybe) or rudely freezes them if they pop up for a look. But snow also presents its vulnerability blatantly, exposing itself for all to see, its granules and icy detritus spattered by myriad brands of cat and dog and whatnot urine. Snow, the dichotomy -- coming to a landscape near you. Or staying. Hello, I must be going. Bye.