Winter
Early November in southwestern Ontario, we had a real first snow. It coated trees and covered roofs, nearly buried the gardens and gave drivers a reason to haul out their snow brushes. It was cold too.
like how the snow mounds on the picnic table top and benches, like a marshmallow top
Ceramic birdhouse made by my friend Valda. It may not be the most comfortable place for birds, but it’s a pretty decoration.
Time to put the watering cans away. We had to turn them upside down and drain them first.
snow on the trellises, and fence, a neat pattern
Weather in Canada, at least where we are. It comes and it stays.
Today I’ll share a poem that I wrote years ago, published by Tower Poetry Society.
Frozen Beauty
maples wave skeleton arms, patterning a cold blue sky
exposing abandoned nests and fragile papery globes
work of birds and bees
silvery icicles and white patches weigh down
evergreen branches, they sag
like an old woman with a heavy load
paw prints parallel booted feet
imprinting, crunching the cold white blanket
over frozen soil and city concrete
gardens, a silhouette of frozen stalks, dried seedpods
waiting… at rest until spring
like hibernating bears
©Carolyn Wilker
Published by Tower Poetry Winter Edition 2004-2005 Vol. 53 No. 2