Podunk

Reverie of a childhood family tradition.

Snowflakes drifting lazily through the streetlights
Evoke memories of childhood and that first snowfall
Annually we would walk the mile and a half
To the donut shop for snacks,coffee, or cocoa
Admiring the beauty of the blanketed landscape
Softening edges and hiding the flaws
Of homes in the poorer section of town
Podunk was avoided in daylight yet
Once a year the differences were overlooked
Almost as if the whiteness camouflaged
The character of the criminal types who
Populated that section of the city
Speaking to all those we met on our trek
Voices muffled by scarves and ski masks
Like our identity was hidden from them
Just in case lower class was contagious then
The counter was our favorite location
Feeling grown up next to old men in overalls
As they smoked cigarettes and took coffee black
Glazed donuts slowly vanished between talking points
Long johns or angels sat on our plates
Cocoa steamed until safe to taste
Another journey home through awesome nature
To be warned to never go through Podunk alone

Author's Note

A reflection of the way I was raised, not on my current views or philosophy. Would especially like feedback on use of description and emotive words.