Arctic air swirls the scent of snow
Light to counter darkness, muffle sound
Revealing mouse paths
And the impressions where the deer lie
Their grayed coats like laden skies
Breath offered to the stillness
Ice daggers drop from cliff face
And the laurel leaves curl tightly with the cold
To drip when sun-touched
Along the stream, the rime grows thicker
While in the depths, catfish sleep
In muddy dreams
In her den, the she-bear sleeps, her
Tiny mewling cubs nestled close
To rosy, milk-filled teats
My den is cozy, too, and warm
With the pop and crackle
Of the dancing wood-stove fire
Hunger stalks and an old stag falls
Food for the ravens and the foxes
His flesh, their larder
While frozen branches crack and groan
Thrashed by storm winds and
Bowed beneath their icy burden
Strong tea steams in my mug
Enriched by amber honey
And my chilled hands are warmed
More snow will fall and stillness deepen
The forest’s long winter nap
Renews and restores
All life drops toward stillness, rests
Then leans toward spring
The storm sweeps northward and
As the clouds break, moonlight
Silvers new-fallen snow
A promissory note of light to come
Susannah Ravenswing 2021