He comes in quietly
A thief in the night
A hush in the woods
Then a bitter chill
Winter strips everything down
The trees, naked
Gnarled and spindly stretching up, up to the sky
Beckoning for warmth, for light.
The weight of darkness and frigid trembling
Exposed, yet heavy
Do we huddle together like the deer?
Bringing warmth and comfort
Or solitary, like the White Oak tree digging our roots down deep
Winter shows us what’s underneath
What lies within and without
When summer’s bounty gives way
