White the Earth Beneath

Whiteness everywhere--
On the trees, slates, grass and road.
Cow keeps on chewing.








Frosting on a nest;
Dog runs down driveway sniffing;
Hens raise a ruckus.

Over the dark stream
A slender white bridge arches--
A snow covered log.

Tipped lightly with white,
Fir trees catch the fallen snow;
Snow flakes begin to float.











Like a hungry tongue
The fungus laps up the snow;
But does not swallow.

The wind is restless;
Loud whispering in the woods;
Fleeting bits of snow.

Loud is the crow's caw;
Black its flight across the sky;
White the earth beneath.

Footprints in the snow
Going past me on the road.
Just a long gone ghost.









Sitting on a branch
Crow shakes and rustles feathers.
Winter's new to him.