I spent several years as a volunteer usher at the Civic Center. The Gifford Series, the symphony and Famous Artists were my favorite performances. I was often in downtown Syracuse on winter nights. I had Clinton Square in mind when I wrote this haiku. The lighted tree, the snowflakes gently falling and catching the glow of the streetlights and the black velvet sky all combined to create a beautiful scene. Winter nights in Central New York are magic.

I live in Fulton, but I come down to Onondaga Lake Park on a regular basis, because I love it. All of my haikus were about the park, and they made direct reference to things that go on in the park.

"Seniors stretching on grass" refers to Fit for the Next Fifty, a program that Wegmans funds all spring, summer, and into the fall. We do aerobics, stretching, yoga, and balance work, all right on the edge of the lake, beneath cottonwood trees. The young mothers are in another program. Moms push strollers with their newborns, and literally run the path, stop, do calisthenics, and then run some more.

And always the beautiful cottonwoods bear witness.