THIS WINTER SKY

THIS WINTER SKY

This winter sky's half-gray with cloud-

The midday air still cool. Small rain

Lies scattered on the leaves of grasses

And magpies stalk through damp, green fields.

A crow calls into air-wide spaces

And distant is the slow reply

And cows graze on a far-off hill
And seem to seeing ant-like small.

Now drizzle rides upon light wind

And washes detail from the tree-dense skyline

And brings to sight a winter vision-

Where things far-off are misty-dim.

We watch and time is passing still:

A pathway to a cloud-bound view,

Where detail vanishes in mist

And all we sense... we hope is true.