the overnight snow fall

he worried

if the car would start in this cold,

pumping

the pedal

as the snow fell.

fifteen degrees

with the sun

still down.

he put chains on the tires

the night before

and

poured green anti-freeze

into the radiator.

i'd watch from

the window as my father

scraped

ice of the windshields,

front and back.

cursing,

i imagined as he made

his way

around his prized

Chevrolet.

in front of each tire

he pushed the shovel

down

to the black

pavement, clearing what

he could as

great blooms of grey

blue smoke

billowed from the exhaust.

finally he climbed into

the car,

lit a cigarette and waved

as he went

on his way.