Afternoon Sun

The forest path is crusted
with frozen snow and ice
patches. Wind has whipped
layers of snow from the latest
storm off tree trunks and 
limbs to coat the forest floor.
Winter-bare trunks and
needled boughs reach up
to a baby-blue sky with
scalloped-white clouds
scudding swiftly across
the sweep of the heavens.
The late afternoon sun
glances its benediction
through the chill landscape.