Nineteenth December

 
The view across the wood
cold, down to minus six.
Ferns drop their fronds
shortest day next Monday.
 
New Year starts soon
perhaps in snow,
(but not too much!)
From Long-Mynd top
the sheep are down . . .
cows milking in the dairy,
sheepdogs beside the hearth
better than the barn!
Days,longer, minutes daily,
early morning work again.
 
February's cold to come,
daffodils in Jessop's copse,
pregnant does and badgers rest,
Reynard howling in the night,
eating worms and berries,
dreaming rabbit and suckling cubs.