Almost Winter

Almost winter.
Leaves crowd the grounds,
the trees almost bare.
It's cold, and dew appears,
with misty blankets,
changing
the habits of the household.
People are sleepy, hovering inside,
or more adventurous,
briskly walking,
rustling the leaves with
their boots as they go.
The sea looks
chill and grey,
green vegetation
gives way to starkness
of wood,
and stone.
A quiet time,
of fruits now hidden,
making odd snatches
of green all the more
lovely, looked for,
yearned for.
Yet the Winter is not
without its gifts,
as they are there,
only not so obvious,
and give way to
self-care and
introspection.
Lovely it is to
hide, blanketed
in Winter's cave,
and then come
out like a blossom
in the Spring,
again.
copyright Monika Roleff 2006.