Press readers, meet snow critters

Editor’s note: As a holiday gift to Press readers, Worley artist and poet Diane Barron is sharing some of her winter seasonal paintings and poems. This one features 25 hidden animals and monsters — some intentionally small and vague.

See more of Diane’s work at: dianebarronart.com

By DIANE BARRON

Special to The Press

SNOW CRITTERS

on the TREE TOPS

It’s stunning isn’t it?...the snow that softly falls all night

and you awake to the wondrous sight of your whole world gone white.

Color has vanished from the scene, all but the deepest and darkest of green

that accents each snow laden branch of the pines.

Further back all blurred are the lines,

washed in milky thickness; sky, mountain and ground are all blended,

confusing where one begins or one ended.

Towering pines have their little heads bent

to see what wonders the night has sent.

The snow critters are back to play

until warmer weather sends them away.

On high branches they mingle, these white fluffy creatures,

all with the most amazing of features.

Monsters are crawling, bears are sprawling, bunnies are running, and birds are falling.

Some are silly or scary or harder to find,

but it’s nice to remember they’re all from your mind.

You look up and you see them in shapes and in shading,

but soon they’ll be melting, and plopping and fading.

Fading back where they came from...up up and away...

you’ll see them in clouds where they usually stay.