the cold has lifted
as thick soft wetness
covers the mounds of winter hardness
meters packed high
melted down three times
and now this fresh falling
is perfect for tongue catching
as it drifts effortlessly
playfully
clad in ballet slippers
and tutus
each flake a dance
to God's nightsong of
quiet rest and peace over the farm
Cory
from two farms over
fields large and cattle many
phoned to say a large lone wolf
tried to gain a calf
now all such young put away safe
the large lone wolf gone away empty
I should watch my herds of wandering goats he said
all resting now in the fold
Blue and Sam dogs guarding
them fenced high
angels watching
I went out with warm water for
five horses
twenty seven goats
one duck
seven chickens
one rabbit
two dogs
all pleased with the -17C
frost melted on inside windowsills
warm wetness welcome
Christmas and Easter Cacti
ready now to throw open their bloom
outside
my face uplifted to catch the
wet flakes
cool on my flushed face
I scratched each horse
let them lick my bare hands
shared words of friendship
and how much I love them
prayed they would keep safe from hungry wolves
who must also eat
snow falling
horse Rudy dozy
as he faces into the Northern sky
content
warm
white stretched soft across his back
like an appaloosa
not the son from
the line of Man O War
that he is
then walking home praising the One who gives all this
I saw the shadows caught up in the quiet of the night
soft waves across the snowy banks
layers of soft darkness
resting upon darker layers
set against the light from the house
cast with the quiet stillness of forest branches
their shadows quilted upon the snow
exquisite God drawing
which fades
only to my eyes
as I shut the door
and turn out the lights
cast shadows
God's brightness
my favourite things
