Winter Delights

Submitted by Lorel

Winter Delights

Morning skies a delicate watercolor: blending bands of pink and orange shyly herald day;

A violent red glow when the sun says good night.

Days misty: sky and earth at last agree on the color for the day. White sky, white earth. Which is up? My feet remind me which is which.

Sunny days bright and cold: frozen dirt and twisted grasses, 50 shades of beige asleep, waiting in silent wisdom for the perfect tilt that brings the wind and rain and sun.

Nature raw, but patient: Birds fluffed up in their down jackets bicker about who owns what seed; dog and cat curl up together in the sunlight; hens roosting hunker down over their naked feet, press close together like feathered bowling balls, waiting all night on their sleepy rack.

Wild goose tracks in the snow; hungry hawks on branches above, waiting in utter silence for any little thing to make a fatal move in the sea of brown grass below.

Night sky a riot of stars, so bright!  Orion striding slowly across the sky taking celestial attendance and reassuring all below that everyone’s present, all is well.

And here on Earth:  snow days for extra rest; snowmen, snow ice cream and snow angels for children; old sweaters, firesides, steaming mugs, good books, unintended naps for adults.

And darkness! So much darkness for all. More silence. More sleep. More dreams.

Such a gift is winter! See – lean in – and bless.