chilly winter day
the sun in a cloudless sky
warms stiff faces

mindfully walking the creek
flowing loudly and rapid
from the snow and rain

it’s cold waters finding
their way telling us
all we need to know

spying the chickadee
in the cattail
of the wet bog

walking the muddy trail,
crisscrossed in shadow,
covered in winter’s detritus

gratitude filling us
as we travel back home
the sun over our shoulder

Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 11, 2022

photos by author