By Laurie Haines
‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the forest,
not a creature was stirring, not even a tortoise.
Wet stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that the wood stove would soon dry them there.
Shrews, voles, and muskrats were all snug in their dens,
while owls and hawks flew out over the fen.
The frogs in the pond and the bears in the forest
had just hibernated after being very well nourished.
All of a sudden there arose a loud boom
as the ice on the pond tried to carry a tune.
Heated by day and cooled by night,
the pond ice contracted and gave all a good fright.
The temperature dropped and the wind began howling,
a storm line approached and the snow started squalling.
A heavy, wet snow fell at two inches per hour;
great drifts built up then began to tower.
Higher and higher the snow piled up
and by morning the woodsy world was all covered up.
Sunlight sparkled on the newly iced world
and loose snow was blown in tight circles that swirled.
The forest awoke to turkeys clucking and purring;
we were nearby yet we were barely stirring.
With cameras in hand we snapped shot after shot
as the wildlife posed perfectly on spot after spot.
The squirrels ran hither and yon round the trees
entertaining us all with their wild trapeze.
The sounds of the forest were hushed by the snow;
it was a magical sight with the world all aglow.
We couldn’t ask for more on this bright Christmas day
filled with grand appreciation for nature’s stunning bouquet.
