Happy Trails

One day this December we had a weather window 

in the middle of a wall of rain

V and I went Christmas shopping

but took an hour's break to walk on the Vedder River Trail

about a half hour's drive from our home

Some of our most beautiful days here 

come when the weather clears 

and we are left with open vistas

and gentle signs of life's ongoing abundance

and generosity to us mere mortals

Seeds cling in the wind and wait

for spring

They are winter's strange flowers

I love them for that

In late fall and winter 

leaves are stripped from the trees

but light shines between the bare branches

widening the view and revealing

the trees' graceful reaching limbs

casting long afternoon shadows on the trail

The trail is shared by walkers, cylists, dogs and horses

Wild rabbits and nervous birds hide in the camouflaging brush

Trail etiquette dictates all creatures yield to each other

keeping the peace and opening faces

to smile and greet all travellers on the trail 

no matter what their mode of transport

At the end of the hour the light waned

I took one last picture

of trees and river, shrubs and grasses

yielding to the twilight

in peace and harmony

striking a chord of joy and gratitude

in my heart

Though the year be dying

and the days be at their shortest

the sporadic gifts of light in December give hope

to all around

sustaining us 'til spring comes again