In the Bleak Midwinter
rime crusted snow
printed with track of fox and rabbit
a race to the burrow
where the vixen fell short
of feeding her hungry kits
and the swift hare lives to dance again
ice embossed tridents of bird track
gray dove feathers
spots of crimson blood
where the snowy owl found his target
and lives to hunt once more
runes of bone cast in the starlight
iridescent scales gleam
where the cold flesh of fish was devoured
and the silken mink lives to swim again
silently, the stars appear
where Orion hunts his nightly prey
life and death in the winter meadow
under the solstice moon
*** On our short hikes in this beautiful snow, we find tracks of all our fellow inhabitants that move mostly unseen – fox, deer, coyote, rabbit – and sometimes we run across evidence of the hunt.
All a part of the course of our seasons – K
thecourseofourseasons 
A rich walk through the hushed countryside.
You have a wonderful way of describing nature and the outdoors, the details of creatures in the wild. There’s an efficient beauty in this natural process.
such a complete picture you’ve given us… enjoy the wood
Nice winter walk, and so terribly missed! Lovely
beautiful winter ode 🙂 xo
A beautiful observation of hidden nature – evidence only found in tracks and scattered bones and feathers. Tis a wonderful season – but for some of Earths fellow inhabitants – a difficult time.
Anna :o]
A touching evocation of winter. Bravo.
Kathleen, this is an exceptional poem…teeming with the foxes and the vixen and the snow, and all there is in life that is to celebrate and applaud and rejoice in, even in midst of the bleak Midwinter. Sigh. I have had an appointment with nature’s beauty in your words. with fond thoughts, Dee
Wow, Kathleen, you present death that is life in each stanza of your poem so that–except for the fox’s kits–I can have no regret for the crunch of bone and the red of blood, no doubt that Orion meant the same thing and we too are separated by only a step or maybe none.
Beautiful poem!
Lots between the lines here, Kath, the crackling of your footsteps, the wind’s woodwind sonata, the ice decorations on the spiderwebs, rail fences, bald rocks–loved the puffs of breath I could see between & off the words as your breath became a mini-weather system; loved the refrain of dancing, hunting, & swimming; a joyful, brutal, honest glimpse of the darker side of Hallmark holiday imagery.
You write the most wonderful comments, Glenn – and my little poem would have been better had I included all those between the line glimpses you imagined! Thank you, my dear friend – smiles -K
there is so much to be seen and heard if you stand and let Nature live unmolested… loved this I often wander out doors… although winter is not my favorite time…
I really like this! The imagery is wonderful. It’s nice being able to see traces of real nature in the snow. 🙂
Hi Kathleen, Cerisp as the scene you are describing – especially liked : the “swift hare lives to dance again…” and its repeat… All the very best to you Scott http://www.scotthastie.com
I would have loved to see those creatures ~ This is my favorite part:
life and death in the winter meadow
under the solstice moon
A beautiful share ~ Happy week to you ~
Nature is inspiration and poetry about nature is inspirational. Thanks.
So much happens outside of our view in winter. Part of the cycle of life and death. Sad when I think about it, but nature is not always kind to all.
Nature is not sentimental. My grandmother was a farmer and she used to say that only city folk can afford to be sentimental: nature itself is cruel but fair. Sometimes you win and sometimes the other wins. But life itself is renewed annually.
Beautiful.
it is nature…this taking of life…for sustenance and survival…its a cycle…its grisly to watch in the pastoral scenery of nature, but it def has both sides…
eating and being eaten… ugh… i would find it tough to stumble upon hunt evidence..and yet…it’s part of nature…
Kathleen this i just wonderful. I would love to be on that walk seeing all the traces of real nature.
Thanks, Bjorn – it is always awe inspiring to see the different aspects of nature – we love living so close to these beautiful creatures K