When Comes The Ghost Of Winter Poem by JDC LeDrew

When comes the ghost of winter
And strips the maples of their leaves
And leaves them naked to the winds.
When frost like broken glass lays thick
Upon the moss and grass and stone.
When all across the valley lands
There hangs the heavy cloak of death.
In choking cold an icy hand
Closes firm her grip...

And sends the stinging rains
Down from the fearsome heights,
I wonder where the screaming jay
Will hide his head tonight?

When ice stands thick upon the ponds
And reflects in twisted shapes and forms
The stark branches of the silent oaks.
When cattails clatter in frozen sheaths
A broken tune cast by the winds.
When all one hears above these sounds
Are groans and mutters from the ice.
And all one feels is winter's touch...

It does seem strange on this silver bed,
To stand and wonder how well they sleep?
Those water-folk, whom on warm spring nights,
Sang songs so sweet they made me weep.

When comes this bitter season cold
So bold and fierce and proud,
And butts her noble head to front...

It then strikes me that we all must bow
Before her chilling winds.
While all that lives wear frosted frowns,
The ghost of winter grins.