Suddenly the street empties.
That's the effect snow has. Today
it's falling down like curtains on a stage.
It brings some peace of its own and
smooth as butter everything dirty
disappears. Now I know it means the piano
will appear again and, later, the muffled
sound of gloves sliding too fast over the keys.
Again you'll hold the ladybird in your hands
and put it down on my lap at the end of the street.
So I won't shiver and so that the calm
will hold for a couple of days. The street and everything
on it is different today. White and empty.
Its effect is slightly strange so I concentrate
on the warmth in my lap. With both hands
I hold the ladybird which brings me luck
every time I look at it.

Translated by Ana Pepelnik and Zoë Skoulding