Birdwatching Diary: Swans on the Yellow River
by 16NightshadeJasper89
Dec 16, 2024
Spring in Sanmenxia always seems to stumble a bit.
The snow fell before dawn, leaden clouds pressing down on the Yellow River as it flowed sluggishly. At first, scattered snowflakes danced like the "Rite of Spring" on window panes, but soon they swirled down in thick clusters, as if emptying the sky of winter's lingering whispers.
In the morning, the branches of the plane trees bloomed again, covered in white, resembling plum blossoms. A girl in a knitted hat held a transparent umbrella, its frame trembling in the wind, shaking loose a shower of snowflakes like pear blossoms falling to the ground.
Traffic slowed to a crawl, tires whispering secrets on the snowy blanket. The most vibrant scene was at the intersection, where a splash of orange stood out—a sanitation worker's bamboo broom swept across the asphalt in bold strokes, the bristles scattering ice crystals like a dragon's whiskers dancing during the New Year celebrations.
White steam billowed from the breakfast stall on the corner, the owner's red scarf bobbing in the vapor. Her calls of "Eat it while it's hot!" mingled with the aroma of sesame cakes, melting the frost on the windows. Schoolchildren chased the falling snow, the fair-weather dolls hanging from their backpack zippers swaying back and forth, shattering the six-pointed stars of snowflakes. In the distance, the red walls of the drum tower, capped with snow, resembled freshly steamed jujube flower buns emerging from a steamer basket.
The entire city nestled in a white harbor, traffic lights performing a waltz amid the swirling snow and ice crystals. Shopfronts, veiled in snowy mist, blurred into a watercolor painting. Delivery drivers in yellow vests turned into alleys, the food boxes in their baskets still steaming, as if carrying the warmth of the entire spring.
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