Frost, ice, bare trees.
Mud crunching under foot
deer lazing in the sunshine
feeling the warm winter sun
on their backs.
Frozen water, leaves imprinted
on the ice, crack underfoot
thick shards disappear
under the frozen surface
life continues, tiny creatures swim
looking for an escape.
Those warm days of bare feet
and short sleeves seem just like
a hazy distant dream
we can never return to.