Over Hill, Over Heather

Over hill, over heather Creeps winter weather A thin mantle of snow Overlays the hedgerow Wind whistles through trees As tiny twigs freeze Creatures retreat to their holes In meadows, on knolls Parks and playgrounds deserted Sunshine's rays introverted Icicles seen in unusual places On craggy rocks, in clefts' spaces The ground's stiff and it's hard In both front and backyard Brooks and streams turn to ice As do small ponds in a trice Over hill, over heather Creeps winter weather Birds of a human feather Must needs band together