Secrets in Winter Winter is mistletoe in tree tops Bare branches And evergreens Like skeletons in festival garb With camilla's blooming In defiance of the cold Red and white Like blood and snow Snow is rare and melts so fast The blood has long since Soaked into this ground And been turned to holly berries The branches rub together A metronome for the grey months Clicking and talking About the years gone by The oaks will leaf soon And hide their green boarders Disguised as birds nests Waiting for winter to kiss them free.

all poems © 2004 v.a.watts