The soft pearl-grey fluorescence of a semi-opaqu
ice fog has saturated the forest in an ephemeral
gossamer curtain draped over the landscape
vapour rising slowly from the stream coursing
through the ravine dark and turbulent with meltwater.
Snow billows lightly on the atmosphere under
a sky clamped tight with silvery clouds of winter
moisture, flakes tumbling lazily, drifting in
looping flushes to settle on the forest floor
blanketing the ice a flash-freeze transformed
from a melted snowpack. Droplets of ice dangle
on frosted branches like glittering jewels the
eerie light enlivens. That same dusky light emanating
from an unknown source glancing off tree trunks
painted with luminescent lichen. There is serenity
in this sleeping winter landscape where fresh snow
absorbs ambient sound, even the rustling of birds
settling into the security of fragrant cedar branches
limned in snow. In the near distance the steady
metronomic beat of a woodpecker's busy search.
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