Transition

There ... an almost imperceptible
shrinking of the snowpack, areas
where animal tracks have not
disturbed the smooth ephemerality
of the white confection humping
the forgotten presence of stumps
and anthills, ferns and runways
look intact yet, but soon that
dense icy granular transition
will occur, snow fleas will leap
surfacing on the snow of the forest
floor. Tiny brown creepers will
track cleverly up tree trunks, 
nuthatches companionably on
the downward spiral and chickadees
dance into the dense green evergreen
interiors. The creeks running
through woodland ravines will
swell, churn black as the crows
mobbing overhead, and soon
great blue herons on their
alternative migration will visit
matching their presence with
the mourning cloaks, the returning
mallard pairs, the hawks....