First snow

When the first snow of the year descends

it brings back a sense of innocence.

A new freshness sweeps land and sky

washing the air, sweetening the eye,

as if permission to start again is found,

as if heaven's truth somehow came down

when the soft white newness covers all

when the first snow of the year falls.

Saghatel Haratounian

translated by Diana Der-Hovanessian