| The morning sun rises between snow covered mountain peaks It’s brilliant light casting long shadows across the hills below Sunlight glistens off the surfaces and we stare, dewy eyed The thin, weather-hardy plants are peeking through Standing on bare spindly legs that managed to survive the long cold winter The eagle flies overhead spying for breakfast to fill its empty gnawing belly. Sun warms the mountain slowly as to not damage the life it holds upon its surface The hillsides now speckled with white, brown, green Speckled and mottled like a great horned owl’s coat The mountain overlooks it’s domain with a watchful eye Shadows play on it’s surface - forming silhouettes of eagles, ravens, coyotes, bears Pulling me out of my slumber and urging me to walk with them To explore the vast countryside With delight, I cast off my hooded jacket and walk towards the riverbank Breathing in the new scent of river melt Like crisp snowfall Soft and clean and still Welcome |