Winter Masterpiece

The wind bellows its ferocious
breath through the forest frozen
in winter's white cloak.  Keening
through the trees lashed by its
pitiless force, a low moan breaks
the stillness of the snow-muffled
woods.  Despite its insistence the 
embroidered landscape of intricately 
bowered patterns resists the relief 
unburdening of wondrous tracery; 
limbs and branches delicately limned 
in layers of ice and snow as though 
the fevered genius of an authentic 
artistic expression jealously 
guarding a sublime masterwork.