A Winter’s Afternoon

The mountains draw their shawls of clouds

‘bout their shoulders to ward off the damp chill,

humming as if about to settle down

into rocking chairs before a fire

and knitting away this afternoon of winter

as they chat about the doings 

of their children, grandchildren,

and their neighbors to the west.



Perhaps, this is why--

the birds flit and chirp

singing songs of spring

as they nibble at the suet cakes

you’ve left for them.