Winter gifts

Frosted leas and crystal meadows,

Naked trees and misted hollows

Greet the eyes this winter dawn.

And for the ears, an equal greeting
Crunching leaves, snow geese honking

Chittering squirrels, Peckers tonking.

The frigid bite of wind on skin,
The icy sting of wind-born flake,

These tactile gifts keep us awake.

Tangy wood smoke greets the nose
And the musk of dampened trees

Linger on within our clothes

Even though they make us sneeze.

All winter’s gifts, we welcome these.