Walking Through A Snowy Woods

The trail to the cabin winds through the snowy woods
Sunset's deep red glow has begun to fade as dusk approaches
A light breeze whispers through the trees
Gently tossing a few snowflakes this way and that
The snow fell heavier earlier in the day
But now there’s an occasional flake
And a beautiful blanket of white covering the ground
Animal tracks dot the path before you
A sign that the forest is a living place
Even now that winter has come
The patterns in the snow show you that badgers, birds and foxеs
Have all traveled this way rеcently
They've walked across one another's footprints
Which now mix together, forming intricate swirls of lines and dots
Out of the corner of your eye
You notice a red squirrel hopping through the trees
It pauses when it sees you
And clutches a tiny acorn to its chest
You watch the tip of its tail flick back and forth as it looks your way
Before scampering out of sight
Perhaps it’s going back to its home for dinner
You imagine a squirrel family tucked away in a tree
Warm and snug as night approaches
Looking around, you notice that the gentle light of dusk
Has cloaked the forest in violet and blue
The sun sets earlier at this time of year
Making way for the stars which twinkle brightly overhead
During the long frosty nights
You appreciate these periods of transition
When day fades into darkness
And all is at peace
As you walk down the trail
Your boots crunch through the snow with every footfall
Sound is magnified here in the forest
With the snow insulating the ground
A snapping twig, a bird call
And even the rustling of a leaf sound crisp and clear
Every minute, the sky grows darker
And the air temperature drops slightly
You pull your warm coat tighter around you
And then readjust the scarf around your neck
For a moment, the cold air touches your skin
It sends a tingling sensation down your spine
Which makes the warmth that follows even more soothing
You take a deep breath in
Relishing the feeling of the cold air entering your lungs
Fresh and clean
It's as though the snow brings with it
A chance for a new beginning
And then you exhale
Watching a cloud of condensation form in the air in front of you
For good measure, you breathe out a little more and see the cloud drift away
These small pleasures of the season always make you smile
Winter awakens the playful side of you
Perhaps tomorrow you'll build a snow fort or make a snow family
Complete with hats and scarves
But for now, you'll continue on your way down the meandering trail