WINTER

Every winter
Here in the Glen,
The world starts out
Brand new.
It’s quiet and the frost lies heavy
On fairy spider webs.
The dust lies hidden
Covered in a crunchy coat
Of bright frost.

The pallid sunlight
Soothes the eyes
And oh! so gently,
Warms my sleepy skin.
Water, cold and icy,
Splashed on a sleepy face
Shatters sleep away
With sparkling indifference.

The fragile fineness
Of Winter branches
Against a grey and looming sky
Hides the omens of Spring
And contrasts with
The black green
Of evergreen silhouettes.
The day tries to warm
But winter’s battalions
Are aligned against the sun.

Day lingers only shortly
And at the end rewards us
With heavenly display
Of colour.
Night comes,
And stealthy cold
Wraps us round
With gentle sleep,
To wait and dream
Of tomorrow and Spring.

Dawn McDonald
© January 2004

Midi: "Foggy Day 1"