SHENDANOAH VALLEY ICE STORM

Ice storm icicles--glistening crystal
adorning tree and shrub and evergreen
stiffening to finger tips
of every branch and twig
painting bark on barren trees
with glass from ground to crown.

Stark silence in my woods
punctuated eerily by sudden cracks
of heavy falling limbs
that pierce the snow carpet
stretched from road to pond.

My muted world stands still
except for frenzied birds
competing with bold grey squirrels
for each sunflower seed
in my ice-glazed feeder.

Dusk descends in slow motion
chill deepens over the frozen scene
a cold moon rises to cast silver light
on the sparkling wooded splendor
of my private winter wonderland.

My soul is nourished by the awesome beauty
of God's winter masterpiece!

---by Leona Choy