A Dreamlike Day Poem by Deanna Samuels

The day was almost dreamlike
soft, cloudy yet bright,
temperature chilly but not freezing,
air drying, nature calm and quiet.

Opportunity to take a slow bike ride
to the path behind the house,
see the river and wood scene
following two weeks of snow and freeze.

Dressed accordingly, took the plunge,
slowly, carefully steered the cleared roads
and noticed paths had now been cleaned
leading to the hill down to public pergola.

Even that slope was now free from slush,
the previous snow piled high on either side.
The short bridge over Farewell Creek
opened out towards public path to walk.

The area had transformed to beautiful vision,
each side of path under four feet of snow,
the tall, now dried grasses peeped out on top
while whole lower brushwood lost to sight.

Only the varieties of trees held their own,
towering over this desolate frosty blanket
while local birds flew from branch to branch
seeking, looking for anything edible to eat.

Biking on path along quiet, almost silent river
much hidden with ice, a few opened gaps
allowing the slow gurgling stream to flow,
though quickly disappearing under next floe.

A short full leaved untidy offshoot fir
curved picturesquely over narrow streamlet
contrasting its yellowy green fronds
against the white bleakness of surrounds.

Deciduous trees appear stark and eerie
against the ever-greying sky,
their limbs twisted and gnarled,
embarrassed without summer adorn.

A large long rotting snow covered fallen tree
has taken on appearance of snarling crocodile,
jaws agape, ready to spring on next meal,
while shimmering misted sun breaks through.

These wondrous winter scenes follow
path back to first wooden crossover bridge,
there beneath, the crème de la crème,
an ice and snow narrowed short waterfall.

River banks with rough ice and snow each side,
creek gurgling and slurping slowly by
with stark trees overhang for a perfect view,
dried half-buried grasses giving background.

With such picture embedded in my mind
Rode slowly, happily back up hill to home.

Written at Courtice, Ontario - 28th February 2025