Winter Wraith

There is little nuance of colour 
tone as though the landscape is
jealous of its monotones of
greys and browns, black
contrasting with white tenuously
on the cusp of melting, scant
contrast in tufts of evergreen
boughs relieving the backdrop
of sameness this early winter
day. Stillness pervades the
chill atmosphere as ice pellets
fall from a leaden sky, and a
small white dog, delicate legs
akimbo in motion, dangling
ears flapping, whips through
the forest undergrowth, like an
amorphous gathering of snow
suddenly rising, pantomiming
life; an ephemeral winter wraith.