Winter’s Lace

Winter opened its vaults last night,
flinging fistfuls of crystalline
diamonds into the darkening sky.

Like white-tulled ballerinas
dancing gracefully on heaven’s stage,
silent stars stood entranced
by their intricate beauty.

Motionless,
I watched each lacy gem
drift softly by my upturned face,
as winter’s icy hands guided them gently
on their swirling lazy way,
and blanketed the waiting earth
in cold splendor.

The shivering rustling of reeds,
the restless fingers of the trees snapping in the frosty air,
broke the silent stillness,
as winter quietly pulled up its white coverlet
over the sleepy earth.