Trees and road are still;
Only the stream sparkles move.
Earth takes a deep breath.

Shadow crosses road
Stealthily and silently
And then just lies there.

Shadows rule just now,
Crisscrossing the road and woods,
Dappling the bushes.

A few snow patches
Lie near the side of the road
Gray and soot covered.

Red sign on the tree:
"Private. Do Not Enter Here."
The squirrel ignores it.

Light through the brown leaves
Infuses an eerie glow;
Echoes of last spring.

Old dog lifts his head,
Looks at me and plops back down;
Used to growl and bark.

Ancient dead brown log
Disintegrating slowly,
Rejoining the earth.