Alone I sit
staring at the cold grey sky
All around
winter's handiwork
so silent
so beautiful
fills the land

Drifting lazily upwards
pillars of smoke
rise ghost-like
from the chimneys
On the ground below
the freshly fallen snow
so quiet, so fragile
instils deep peace
within my soul

Standing alone in the distance
a church steeple
points majestically towards the sky
in silent testimony
of its God

Nothing stirs -
the sparrows have gone to bed
this cold winter's evening
dreaming pleasant dreams
of tomorrow's spring
when new life will take form
in Nature's world
or perhaps they dream
of yesterday's summer
when they flitted happily
from tree to tree
dancing in the sunshine
so happy to be alive
and free

Yet dream on
my little friends
cold winter must reign
a little while longer
still blessing the earth
with her deep silent beauty
--- as now the snow begins to fall
once more