Dark winter clouds part,
 
tantalizing me with blue,
 
before the storm starts.

 
 
 

Windy afternoon—
 
my little plum tree shudders
 
with each icy blast.

 
 
 

Deepening winter—
 
the orchards and vineyards keen
 
for their stolen fruit.

 
 
 

Windy afternoon—
 
a feral cat seeks shelter
 
from the icy blasts.

 
 
 

Unharvested fruits
 
shrivel on my apple tree—
 
deepening winter.

 
 
 

Winter afternoon—
 
over some frozen roadkill
 
two crows are squabbling.

 
 
 

Winter afternoon—
 
the book I can’t bear to write
 
keeps writing itself.