Encounter

And the land was naked
And the ponds were cold,

Barely could the dryads
Slip from tree to tree

In the wistful, haunting song
Of winter...

I looked into her face
And our breath met,

A charade of words
And I longed to forget

The tree on tree that
Stretched away

And charmed the mind to sleep.

But then with one toss
Of her amber hair

Sunlight returned
And by her chair

Cold flowers were placed.

Gone was the shadow
Across my mind

And I was alone
In summertime.