Soon Winter

Soon Winter Clouds Rounded mounds piled Ever higher and thicker Heavy, hang deep gray low — Threatening snow — If not tonight, then tomorrow — Over all here, upon this gurgling, burbling Creek, which sparkles rushing Downhill From Hidden Waterfalls… The clear creek’s mddy banks Hardenig after Two week of cheerless, chilly nights, While the collected rocks all-along the ceek’s grassy, weed-lush, blue-green flanks, Are refusing to sing out to the universe before the solstice comes to turn the light back around — As through the amassed evergreens’ Extening shadows With the slinkng-in of dusk’s earlier Hour’s setting sun. ———————————————————— (c) sally young eslinger 11/24/2023