growing commotion
voices loud, soft, far, and near
children excitedly running past;
adults casually strolling behind them
fresh tracks in the snow
where green foliage had been replaced
by glistening white crystals
flurries of holiday lights stretch across the trees;
color pirouetting among the bushes
illuminating an otherwise dark and cold winter evening
a faint scent of expresso floats through the air—
I can almost taste it on my tongue
camera flashes flicker, catching my eye
beautiful chaos, flourishing, whirling around me
but I’m frozen in place—
my oasis of calm in the center of the park
both speechless and elated, as he drops to one knee
a diamond emblazoning—promising me forever
amidst a night I will never forget
