Forest Arras

In the forest all is still but for a slight
breeze rustling desiccated foliage
still clinging to oaks and ironwood.
The interior of the forest is always
dim under the thickness of its canopy
but this afternoon fog shrouds the
distance and mist rises from the
slender brook not yet frozen over
trickling at the bottom of the forest's
ravine. The winter rain has ceased
encrusting the acquired layers of snow
with its sparkling diamond micro drops
leaving the atmosphere suffused with
humidity. In this diffused light bronze
leaves still hanging on beech boughs
acquire an effervescent shade of bright
orange, luminous against the severe
darkness of the day. Though late afternoon 
has not yet arrived, twilight has and as
it swiftly takes possession of the
forest nocturnal residents will slowly
emerge from their daytime havens
exchanging place with the creatures 
for whom daylight signals their cycle
of activity shuffling along the forest
floor or winging from conifer to
deciduous tree sheltering from the 
wicked elements of cold, wind, sleet.