Solstice Snapshot

Two tiny sparrows are dancing around,

between a Lemonwood tree and my

sugar frosted deck railing.

Winter sky is iced with pink

becoming white and vacant

as it hits a cold relentless sea.

I can see three church spires,

definitely the dreaming variety,

and a renovated castle,

almost like a view

over a medieval village

in Italy or Portugal.

Smoke from the chimneys

of the houses below

puffs dirty smudges over the tree's,

mostly naked now,

but a few are still clinging

to their vibrant autumn dress.

Across the brook,

the Norfolk pines,

with their branches like magic wands,

stand on the ridge of the hills,

stark, against their

washing powder blue white backdrop.

They are repairing

a rig down at the port,

(cheap labor here)...

three giant steel towers,

which are lit up at night,

they are our midwinter Christmas trees

in this town.

Two innocent looking white clouds

are headed towards us

from over the dark pine clad hills

way up the valley,

benign they may be,

but they say it will rain later.

Hurry, cover the solstice bonfires,

for we must dance to their flame tonight....