MuslimKidsMatter | First Frost: A Teen’s Reflection on Winter

First Frost: A Teen’s Reflection on Winter

By Hufsa Lodhi

“First Frost since the sun

Stopped shining

First Frost since the rain

didn’t fall

First Frost since I realized what we had

Is over

First frost since I’ve spoken

At all…”

Delicate snowflakes flutter harmlessly towards their inevitable fate. Covering up any and all traces of warmth left on Earth. Because of winter. Sealing away the happiness and memories of basking freely. Making sure to restrict any escape. All because of winter. Referring back to the snowfall…do snowflakes really flutter harmlessly? Then why do we look at winter as such a punishment? Why does the cold keep us indoors, and the mere thought of frost leave a permanent scowl until the cruel sun melts it away?

This excerpt from a poem I wrote demonstrates an inside look at one’s state of mind during hard times. When we are hurt or disappointed by something, it feels as if the world has stopped spinning. As if everything is going wrong and there’s nothing you, or anyone else, can do to fix it. Then there’s the “favorite” phase of regret when you regret every action from the past twelve hours and wish there was a rewind button. You wish you could’ve thought it through or never have been lead to this. In reality, we are all meant for these things.  We always look at the empty glass. We always fear the night. We hide from the darkness and avoid any encounters with conflict. Even after we know that it is the hard times that makes us stronger and teaches us to never repeat those same mistakes, we just have to look at the brighter side of things.

Winter isn’t a bad time. It’s how you look at it. If we look outside at the mounds of snow and think about the wilted plantation four feet under then the rest of winter goes by extremely slowly. Yet if you take winter as an opportunity to start over you won’t be missing the sun for long.

Winter is not depression. It isn’t a time to stay indoors and spend your days cuddling in bed with movie after movie. The snow does melt. The hard times pass. Soon everything works out and you realize it was worth it. Regardless of what happened and what you went through, everything happens for the reason so instead of being fixated on the present, think of the future. Allah does not give you any hardship that you cannot handle. Winter is a time to go out and enjoy the moment. To watch the snowflakes melt on your tongue and slip on the ice on the side of the road. There are positive sides to every situation but if you cannot open you mind to greater ways then it becomes a miserable experience.

Winter is a way to be reborn. To plant different flowers for the new season and remember to not make the same mistakes. Winter isn’t just a season. It’s an experience. A chance to start over and stake out the flaws. To learn from the mistakes and have a new beginning. Once you start looking at the brighter side of things and embrace the darkness, the “experience” becomes something that makes you or breaks you. You just have to ensure it defines you.

“First Frost since the sun

Stopped shining

First Frost since the rain

didn’t fall

First Frost since I realized what we had

Is over

First Fall since I’ve actually lived

At all…”

About the Author:

Hufsa Lodhi is 16 and was born in Long Island, New York. She has a strong passion for animals, writing, reading, and poetry. Some of her favorite sports include soccer, ice skating, swimming, and football. She currently lives in a small city in North Carolina.

(Attention, writers!  Muslim Kids Matter is a regular feature at Muslim Matters.  New articles for kids are posted every other Sunday.  You’re welcome to send in your entries to muslimkidsmatter@muslimmatters.org.)