Sun slips behind clouds,
Then slips back and floods the road.
Shadows dance on snow.

Icy winter wind
Seems to miss the smooth snow field.
Wait! A billlowed white cloud.

Bending black tree limb
Touches a thick black tree trunk:
Shadows on the road.

The tiny fir tree
Bent over at the road's edge
Buried by snow plow.

Glisten in the road--
Water ripples on the ice
Melting and freezing.

A splash of sunshine
Melts the thin layer of ice:
Winter regression.

Movement under ice--
Ahead, everything is solid
Here the water flows.

The two cars rush past
Speeding through the melted patch--
Sploosh. Sploosh. Then Sploosh. Sploosh.

A distant whisper,
Then the wind touches my face;
The smell of wood smoke.