In the Country

In the country the world disappears

when it snows,

For the lack of harsh

city light.

Trees are tall threatening ghosts in woods,

Looming large,

mysterious, white.

But snow does not last

in luminescence,

Overwhelmed by steel and concrete.

It cannot cling to such great heights,

And is trampled

by hurrying feet.

Barren fields and forests welcome snow,

And find invisibility.

Hills, hedges and haystacks brown

All become rather hard to see.

The countryside

is one vast blur

Hidden beneath the falling snow,

Recalling peaceful

winter scenes

Back in the days

of long ago.

Diane Sutliff

(1923-2007)