would you like to walk to elm court

now that winter’s here?

yes it is a little chilly,

but you’ll like it, never fear.

i’d like to see that little path,

the one you sketched, you know,

after last night’s storm it surely

must be rimmed around with snow.

the grey grouse slept i’m certain

beneath the patches white,

the hills protrude a dazzling crest

into the dawn’s cold light.

if attempts were made to climb

up to its softened blue,

every time we stepped up one

we’d slip back more than two.

but now, we’ll just go thru this woods

and this deep snow, my dear,

will make a worth while picture

for it’s beautiful this year.

let us plow thru this deep snow drift

to that small half frozen stream,{69}

we’ll see nicer ferns i’ll wager

than a summer’s ever seen.

ferns in winter? yes there’s plenty.

will you only just look here

how frost fashions from plain water

things so beautiful and queer.

wait awhile! here’s beauty,

this stream bank’s frozen dirt

boasts an edge as sweet and dainty

as a lady’s underskirt.

in summer this is lovely

but old winter has its charms

when these tender little trees stand round

with ice clothes on their arms.

it’s very quiet, but lonely never,

you can push these twigs apart

and in the softened stillness

almost feel and hear god’s heart.

and one may feel this darkness

like soft velvet one unrolls,

its very quiet is soothing,

to a city weary soul.

see these bushes! all the edges

have a perfect picot hem,

like women’s restless fingers

had picked up now and then.{70}

we must find the pathway back

when the sun comes stealing thru,

like old magic, all these wonders

will be dripping from our view.

i prefer to keep this picture

just as we have seen it here,

this lovely morning, to my fancy

is too beautiful, i fear.