still life in the woods

still life in the woods --

silver ice, copper leaf,

verdigris lichen

Freeze, thaw, cold by night, warm by day. The woods are still, seemingly lifeless, cloaked in camouflage splotches of browns and grays. The least spot of color snags my eye: lacy silver ice edging the creek, spotted hazel leaves glowing like burnished copper sails in the late afternoon sun, a verdigris lichen clinging to a tree trunk, the iron ore husk of a hickory nut, a bowing congregation of gunmetal gray oyster fungi on a fallen tree. 

Pilgrim Creek full, fast

Pilgrim Creek full, fast –

on the trail snow turned to slush

oak galls gnawed by squirrels

The remaining snow on the trail has softened into white slush. Pilgrim Creek runs fast and full. Some trees growing low on the bank are surrounded by brown water. Even the little side creeks, often dry or just a step wide, are running high with little waterfalls at every drop or log jam. Oak galls on the path, their orange insides exposed, show evidence of being gnawed by squirrels. The squirrels must be desperate to eat such bitter fare.