Winter Walk in Cornwall
Sleepless I rose before the dawn,
Against the winter chill, wrapped warm
I took my familiar early walk
Along the sleeping valley track.
As the country stretched back to life
Unseen in the grey predawn sky
A skein of geese above, honked their way
Toward their westward feeding grounds.
On high a lonely buzzard soared
Its feline plaintive cry muffled
By mist that hugged the valley stream.
Eerie in the still morning air
Lingering bright yellow gorse flowers
Defying winter’s icy chill
Their bushes netted with white webs,
Sparkled briefly with jewels of dew.
As eastward I returned, the sun
Rising full into the morning sky,
Chased away night’s dark shadows
Staining grey clouds to pink and red
Reflections on the glaze of ice
That covered puddles by the way.
Shone as bright transient mirrors
Dazzling briefly my morning eyes
Hidden snug in the sheltered lane
Within a nest of crinkled leaves
The first bright faced early primrose
Promised that soon there would be spring
© Arthur F Mylam
