to be itself.
after huge cold
and more cold
and ice
and more
came thaw.
finally the deer came out of their
hidey holes,
yarded up
till it's walkable.
fissures are filling up again
and starlings gather
to whistle and sing
and remind me that january's half done.
and this small snow comes down
with a chill wind
begins again to build up
little drifts
here,
off in the woods,
close by in the fencelines,
and these, happily wait
food for those silly starlings
or other hungry winged ones.
and that porcupine
the one with the limp,
waddles into the front yard to eat
an arbor vitae snack.