A Winter Warning

Morning’s misty mourning lays her shroud upon the lake With imprinted recollections at the end of autumns break Copper shades reflected though the hazy hanging veil Foretell with pastel palette of the coming winters tale The bracing northern wind that sweeps the cobwebs from the shore Allows the reeds and grasses to resume their dance once more As the ripples on the glass lake lend tranquillity respite and stir the dormant waterfowl, raising mute swans into flight The distant purple mountains, like sentinels hold fast Vanguards in the distance, they withstand first winters blast In apprehensive mode the lake, awaits the coming snow As winters threatening message warns the vale with icy blow The autumn leaves forsake the trees, who brace themselves for war In naked stark defiance, standing gaunt along the shore The busy boats that bravely bobbed in bustling summer ranks Now cling like mussels to the shore upturned on the banks