ice

woodsmoke in the air-
frozen rain falling on the
dry autumn leaves
–
coals set to bed-
the crackle of sleet
lingers in my ears

icy morning air-
tender fingers deftly tease
the breath from my chest
–
a silent stream-
ice flows from
the jagged rock

a walk in the woods-
the ice covered snow crunching
underneath my boots
–
freezing rain-
my nerves
tested

far icy mountains
bathed in shades of white and blue
float on arctic seas
–
broken ice-
polar bears
search for respite

an overnight storm
invades my dreams and I wake
to trees turned to glass
–
frozen rain-
crystal branches
brush the ground

silver cormorants
standing by the melting edge
of a frozen lake
–
snowfall-
koi slowly swim
beneath a skin of ice

long icicles cling
tenaciously to the rocks
and flow to the ground
–
ice jam
the rising waters
chill my soul

quietly cracking-
gentle waves frozen within
the river’s surface
–
irrigation pond-
young skaters
scarves and gloves

Icy daggers hang
Dripping in the winter sun
Waiting for the fall.