Winter's Options

The sometimes overwhelming
pastoral gloom of a winter
day has its options. Those
transcendent scenes of
ephemeral beauty can appear
to the housebound like sinister
humps of icy distress threatening
broken bones. Like chameleons
perceptions change to suit
one's moods; a gleaming
winter playground generously
shared by the creatures of the
forest who accommodate themselves
to nature's offerings, unaware
they have no other options.