Winter Forest Ambiance

The woods are still, the atmosphere
chill, a wind disturbing the pale,
paper-thin leaves clinging to
immature beach trees, rattling them
like nervous spinsters hoping
their time finally, has arrived....

A white icy haze hangs over the
creek, halfway to shedding the ice
holding it in winter hibernation. A
tiny nuthatch breaks the silence
flitting through a copse of fir and
spruce, companion to a flight of

chickadees.

New-fallen snow in soft, flaky
clumps has patterned the debris-
laden snow, packing the winter
wood with its fresh loftiness,
mounding old tree stumps,
like mischievous ghosts.

Soon, fresh forest drama unfolds
on this winter stage, as a clan
of well-met black-winged messengers
arrive, circle endlessly under the
cloud-riven sky, and caw their
propitious assemblage.

A lone squirrel objects, chattering
scolding endlessly.