Cornucopia

Freezing and bright gray

Still January morning.

The plants are sleeping.

Large car swishes past

With a long exhalation

Of its motor breath.

Deep in the dark barn

Two cows huddle in the cold

Without a complaint.

Roadside birds scramble,

Rising swiftly to the bush-

Return to the road.

Above the swift stream

Icicles are forming--

Below--waters stream.

In the mirrored stream

Sky is spreading tree limbs--

Earth is in the air.

Like a large slingshot

Tree holds its neighbor

In its wooden sights.

Cornucopia

With its gift still and frozen--

Ice has filled the pipe.

I'm Invisible

Gray morning stillness;

Even the snow seems less white;

Wind chime slowly sways.

Birds in the bushes

Hop swiftly from branch to branch;

Check for phantom food.

Brown leaves on gray snow;

White horns in the dim barn door--

Soft morning contrasts.

Hanging from berries:

Drops of water from the sky--

Reflect the grayness.

Buried in the snow

The solar sign is concealed--

Waiting for the sun.

What large animal

Left such a yellow marker

At the tree's bottom?

Tiny roadside pond

Creates its own universe

With green and brown leaves.

Two friends climb the hill

Absorbed in conversation.

(I'm invisible).

New Year's Day Today

New Year's Day today;

Still dark shadows on the land;

Still wind chimes ringing.

Drops fall from the eaves;

Foretell a certain future--

Melting all over.

Nuzzling her friend

Collette enjoys the sunshine;

Wind chimes are ringing.

Sparkling in the sun,

The stream burbles endlessly

Until the next freeze.

A whirlwind of shouts

Bouncing higher and higher--

Girls on trampoline.

Patterns in the woods;

Dark shadows on the white snow.

A distant dog barks.

A trio of chairs,

Their seats covered by the thick snow

Still hold their own place.

Murmur of the wind

Whispers deep in the forest

Speaking many tongues.

Songs for the Season

A white whirlwind falls

Slanting across trees and road

As snow descends.

Quiet the descent--

A million snow flakes falling--

Clouds of solitude.

Fence posts standing still

Let the falling snow cap them--

Passive acceptance.

Forsythia blooms,

This time with snow white blossoms--

Its winter garment.

Twice sold empty house

Made more empty by the snow,

Stands desolately.

Mirror in the stream

Shines through the falling snow flakes,

Reflecting the sky.

What little people

Will cross these snowy bridges

Into the forest?

Forest sings in the snow

Its high pitched tuneless singing

Songs for the season.

With Far Away Swish

From walk of Thursday, December 8,2016

It's bright and dim outside;

Melting ice drips on the porch;

Bird feeder is bare.

With far away swish--

Two cars passing each other;

Then they disappear.

Collette takes her time;

She turns to give me a look,

Then goes back to eat.

They've been here since Spring--

These three stout wooden lawn chairs

Now covered with snow.

My nosy neighbor

Complains about my garbage.

I blow up at her.

Bowing to the stream

Wood fence bends far as it can.

(To see reflection?)

Outside shadowed house

Wood chimes tinkle in the breeze

With metallic tones.

Tiny road side pond

No longer filled with water

Now holds soggy dead leaves.