ice coats spruce branches

magnifying tiny buds

life hidden within

-jmb

 

bright sun peeps, in, out

our shadows come and go

we are, we are not

-jmb

deer trail through the woods
narrow track from hill to stream
far away crows caw

-jmb

snow begins to fall

a quiet start to the day

new moon beginnings

--jmb

raucus winter jays

left and right, squawking, shouting

like loud teenage boys 

-jmb

 

blades of winter grass

so dessicated they float

on unfelt breezes

--jmb

winter fungi cling

drawing out the last of life

from the yellow birch

-jmb

ancient lichened snake

slithering up the bare oak

oh...just a grapevine

--jmb

two male cardinals

hunkered down against the wind

too cold to squabble

--jmb

house finches feeding

glad to find sunflower seed

on an icy day

--jmb

not a northern flicker,

this red-bellied woodpecker

has no belly spots.

--jmb

downy woodpeckers

out for an afternoon treat

mmmm...peanut butter

--jmb

the plant kingdom too

has its prickly porcupines:

spiny sweetgum balls

--jmb

still decorated

for Christmas long after Twelfth Night:

holly's red berries

--jmb

chick-a-dee-dee-dee

chattering, chirping, chiding:

Dan!!! More bird seed please!

--jmb

where a limb once was

now an elegant front door

perhaps for a bug

--jmb

a fur-covered bud

wrapped tight against winter winds

spring's magnolia

--jmb

wild distant seas

mysterious continents

mapped on sycamores

--jmb

leaves cling steadfastly

to the great white oak branches

always last to fall

--jmb

bright-eyed and wary

a nervous tufted titmouse 

wants to eat alone

--jmb