“His world had gone

Overnight-

Paths, tracks, known smells

All sunk

Under soft whiteness

That made him wince and sneeze.

Packed footmarks showed

Where the milkman had trod;

A second set, the postman's

Kit, on flinching paws,

Quickstepped to the gate

In a dazzle of white.

Couldn't see where it ended

So stood up to stare,

Poised like a meerkat.

An exclamation in the snow -

Black kitten

In a white world.