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THAW AND AWE

the sun rises in the horizon once more

nocturnal birds seek shelter

diurnal animals get active seeking food

opaque snow begins to glisten

heavy snow packs fall off bent limbs

invisible little streams flow under the white crust

powdery snow becomes icy and wet

there's chilled water dripping from the pines

hibernating beasts begin to wake from their torpor

green grass begins to break through the thin, wet, icy layer

migrating birds are welcomed back from their long vacation

little streams coalesce into torrents

green begins to overcome white here and there

brown freckles start showing on the face of the mountain

thin layers of winter cavitate into disarray
giving way to the humid growth of mushrooms

there's mud everywhere, but tiny yellow and white flowers
seem to grow from of it

giant clouds of mosquitoes spontaneously materialize out of obscurity
seeking warm blood to make eggs and have sex

winter yields like a dying old curmudgeon

a different, more tender way of life appears all around

both hunter and prey welcome the fulfillment of this promise

just don't forget that winter will come back
and it is holding a grudge against every living creature
that roams this wilderness

take a break, lizards and hares and bears and moose
grow fatter, for winter doesn't forget
and it will come next year to finish those
that mocked him by surviving

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