A Winters Night

There is no thing so peaceful
As a winters night in the woods--
A canopy as black as pitch, 
Spangled with the pinpricks of a billion stars--
Shimmering.
The banks of snow and downy flake,
Turned to diamonds by the moonlight
That drapes the sparkling,
Rolling hills with a shawl of powder blue
And midnight lace.
The cold air, brisk and chill,
Transforms my every breath to puffs
of cloud, that trail away like
Wisps of smoke, into nothingness.
So peaceful is this winter wood--and still,
Like foxes napping.
No evidence of man exists--
He is not welcome here.
I myself am an intruder, and gratefully.
There are no prints, or marks,
Save the tracks of a hungry deer.
And the indecisive flurries fall,
As if the stars themselves--
And lightly gather on my brow and lash.
Then comes, and without warning,
A gentle breeze--a timid thing
Who asserts itself--reluctantly,
And shy.
It wanders through the powdered wood,
Lightly stirring snow and pine. 
How comforting the rustle--
Just as reverent as a hymn.
And the sweet scent of the Douglas Fur
Consumes the sense and dulls the wit,
Till I am thoughtless there;
Save but one, this is a prayer--
The kind whispered as a child.
Perhaps children would be welcome here,
If they could quiet be;
Although snowballs would be welcome
In this place of sanctity.
But awe the sound, I thoughtless hear
A pinecone falling from a tree--
A sound that I would overlook
Were I elsewhere but this wood.
And that's the magic of the hymn; 
The magic of the prayer--
The magic of this powdered wood
To be the more aware.
And thankfully I ponder every flurry--
Every flake, every star
And every diamond--
Every cloudy breath I take.
Now the banks of blue
Are a part of me--
This winter wood, my soul;
And though soon I will be leaving,
I will never really go.
For there is no thing so peaceful
As a winters night in the woods--
And there is no thing so quiet,
As snow!

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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Date: 4/16/2014 8:02:00 AM
Hi Mel Very nicely done. Definitely makes me want to be in the woods Nothing makes me happier than being in the woods esp. in the mountains with snow all around. Thanks for the lovely comments on my poem. I will stop by again and read more of your delightful poetry. New kid on the block as well, Karen
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Mel Merrill
Date: 4/16/2014 2:04:00 PM
New kids unite! Thank you Karen--for the visit and for the nice comment. Meet you in the woods sometime--when it's snowing. Have a Happy Easter. Love and peace, Mel :)
Date: 4/16/2014 12:29:00 AM
I love this ,awesome , diamonds by moonlight ! As In the background I hear the song " First time Ever I saw Your Face/ Roberta Flack, Have a great day, going to fav's ;)
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Mel Merrill
Date: 4/16/2014 2:24:00 AM
Incidentally, that would be an awesome tune to hear falling on the breeze. Thanks!
Merrill Avatar
Mel Merrill
Date: 4/16/2014 2:22:00 AM
Thank you so much. That you would put it on your fav list is amazing--and itself is a favored thing. This poem was an experiment for me, and I feel it needs some revising; however, I've been too busy of late to bother with any editing. Love your writes Deb, and I'm flattered that you liked this. Love and hugs, Mel :)
Date: 4/10/2014 3:45:00 AM
- With your words it sounds very peaceful and beautiful - thanks for your beautiful winter picture. - I wish you a nice day Mel. - oxox // Anne-Lise :)
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Mel Merrill
Date: 4/10/2014 4:34:00 AM
Thank you, Anne.I'm not much of a free verse guy. For me, the real challenge is rhyming with the right words--nothing forced. And the meter; the 8/7/8/7 syllable format is how I hear my words--my verse. If my poems flow at all, that is why. Class dismissed lol. Thanks for the visit, Anne. Have a great Thursday! xoxo // mel
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