Still

under autumn's first skiff

of snow

a softened shore

hangs white willow over water

smooth

as mercury glass

then

a drop of thaw

and winks of ripple

from the island

wings feather-brush

through air

the constellation V's

rise

and go on rising

until again that easing

into pause

the water

stills

(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society