Scenes of Winter

Sun shines weakly
through the roiling clouds
Wind howls through the trees
Leaves litter the grass
and a lone squirrel
roots through the dirt
for something to eat

First one flake
then another
then a trickle
then a deluge
snow falling softly
with an unforeseen vengeance
upon the barren land below

The squirrel scampers back
to its warm burrow
as white engulfs the earth
blotting out imperfections
and hiding all life
until it eventually melts
and gives way to crocuses