A Cozy Cabin Up Ahead

Up ahead, you reach a bend in the path
Where it meets a trickling stream
The narrow brook babbles softly
Through the winter landscape
Like a silver ribbon on a bed of white
Looking closer, you can see where ice crystals have begun to form around some of the rocks
Rising up from the water
Every once in a while
A paper thin sheet of ice breaks off
And glides smoothly downstream
You follow the path as it curves to the left and then to the right
Around a stand of pine trees
Thin clear iciclеs hang from the branches
Small droplets of watеr cascade down their sparkling sides
Before breaking free and falling to the ground
Occasionally, a glimmer of dusky light bounces off the icicles
Making the trees look as if they're decorated with glass
Here, the snowy ground is pristine and undisturbed
There are no more tiny footprints
You're the first to walk through this special place
You pause, taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of the wilderness surrounding you
Out in the distance, clumps of snow fall from the tree branches to the ground
Each one lands with a thump
A small bird chirps at you from the tree stump nearby
Before taking off in a flurry of wings
Perhaps the bird is flying back to its nest for the evening
In a way, that's what you're doing too
You know the cozy cabin lies somewhere up ahead
Waiting for you to arrive and make yourself at home
The thought of it brings to mind images of a crackling fire
Thick blankets and steaming mugs of hot tea
With a contented sigh, you continue on your way
As dusk fades into night
The shadows in the forest lengthen and shift
The sky darkens overhead
And the purples and blues turn to silver on the snow
The first stars appear as pin pricks of light in a velvety black sky
Visible in patches behind the thick grey clouds
As you gaze up beyond the tree tops
A few large flakes of snow drift down from above
One of them lands on the front of your coat
It rests for a second or two
Before melting into the fabric
Another one follows close behind
This time landing on your cheek
Before you know it, you're surrounded by feathery snowflakes
They trace the straight lines of the tree trunks down
Falling so slowly, they almost appear to be suspended in mid-air
As you walk, you have the illusion of passing through hanging curtains of pearls
Silence blankets the forest now
Between the clouds and the powder-covered ground
Only the sound of your footsteps
And the muted pattering of falling snow break the hush
Up ahead, you can see that the trail is leading you to a small clearing
A mysterious colorful glow lights up the ground near the edge
Curious to find the source of the light
You shuffle through the snow
Gradually, the forest opens up entirely
And there, laid out before you
Is the most enchanting winter wonderland you've ever set your eyes on
You imagine that in spring
This place is a lush green meadow
Dotted with wild flowers
But tonight, it's a quiet field of white
Rimmed by tall snow-frosted pine
The ground gently slopes up at the center
At the highest point sits a charming log cabin
It looks inviting, with a wispy curl of smoke rising from the chimney
"It's probably warm and toasty inside" you think
You can almost feel the heat radiating from the stone fireplace
And the soft weight of a fuzzy blanket across your legs
From the branches of the towering pines
Hang thousands of tiny twinkling fairy lights
Illuminating the evergreen trees
Rainbows shimmer on the newly fallen snow
Which glistens like diamonds beneath
This place is brimming with that kind of special magic
That only appears at this time of year
It fills you with a sense of wonder
And the knowledge that this is exactly where you're supposed to be
Looking down, you see that the path has come to an end
But that's just fine, you know where to go from here
With a sense of lightness that carries your feet across the snow
You make your way up to the cabin
Hanging on the front door is a lovely decoration
A shiny bell surrounded by a few small pine boughs tied together with ribbon
As you open the door, the bell jingles softly, announcing your arrival
A wave of cozy warmth washes over you from inside
You can feel the change in temperature on your face
And you loosen your scarf in response
An enticing combination of scents reaches you before you step in
It makes you think of evenings by the fireplace
Snow-covered woods and the magic of winter
You breathe in the spicy aroma of cinnamon, cloves, dried orange peel and peppermint
Closing your eyes as it fills your senses
Breathing out slowly, you appreciate the way it lingers in your mind
Hinting at the flavors you'll find in a warm mug of tea
You carefully shake your boots once or twice
To loosen any snow before crossing the threshold
And then, you make your way into the cabin