February 20, 2018, Prescott-

The snow came down, fitfully,

more than our precipitation shadow

usually sees,

and somehow, the creek,

near a natural foods cafe

that I frequent,

was rushing,

just enough to generate excitement.

I’ve been in situations

like this, many times.

A handful of raindrops

wet the pavement

in a dust bowl town,

and the community

celebrates.

A fishing town,

in the Northwest,

has five straight

days of sunshine,

and the tanning booths

empty out.

Most clearly,

I remember January thaws,

when several of us were out

in t-shirts and shorts,

at the first 50-degree moment.

This is central Arizona,though,

and the sun had burned off

the clouds, by 3 P.M.

Business as usual

cannot be put off,

more than a few hours.