Bright Winter

Scattered dark bright branching sticks etched spreading into sky;

sun, burnished silver disk, a frozen lifeless eye.

Space, light, air bring soft cold kiss of knife cut winter's way;

Blade-white ices freeze skin deep and deeper yet in light of day.

Desiccating crackle sharpest crystal sparkle edge

and glitter every limb and leaf and lacework locking hedge.

Season's depth and death pass cycle in through in

Bringing winter's spring to summer's fall and winter round again.