Snowflakes

Snowflakes are their own parachutes,
thus descend both slowly
and quietly
and as a group are safe
at least up until arriving.
And, then, eventually melt.

What we might refer to as weather
will pronounce their fate:
the temperature,
direction of wind, and what awaits:
whether tree, grass, roof, or slate.
We pronounce it fate.

Parachutists can’t be sure where they’ll land,
or exactly when,
having simply jumped out from a plane,
so may drift in wind
to land in a river or town
and don’t have language to cope.

Chutists don’t have the option to melt,
so when entangled in a tree
they can’t get free
so instead get shot or are simply hauled off
and imprisoned.