Footprints In The Snow Poem by Deanna Samuels

From the panoramic kitchen window this morning,
apart from the beauty of the heavily snow laden fir trees
a most unexpected but distinctive unusual sight.
A complete trail of footprints in the fresh layer of snow
that made their way across the pool protective covering.
The prints from my perspective, came from the side rail fence,
over the pool cover, continued across the lower back deck
and out onto the unfenced snow covered back garden.

It was an easy guess as to which creature of nature
those footprints belong - a rabbit.
Firstly, there are plenty of warrens in the immediate vicinity
and secondly, rabbits are often seen munching the grass.
There was no doubt, one could picture the very action -
a hop and a leap, each fresh imprint about a yard apart,
making its way across and virtually in a straight line.

Each set of imprints were of three in the shape of a triangle,
the front top indentation was almost a raggedy round,
while the second and third print were tidier smaller circles
and were placed at the lower line of each corner.
All evidence pointed to the distinct stamp of a rabbit.
No other creature prints marred the untouched fresh snow.

What an interesting nature study start to the day!


Written at Courtice, Ontario - 9th January 2026