birds talking up a storm

announcing themselves to the world

sky of blue, clouds light and fluffy

a moderate, mid-December morn

as we started down the trail

morning was clear

blue sky, no clouds

sun rising over the foothills

Chill with ice covered trails

Snow crunching under boots

It wasn’t a quack

more of a squawk

as we approached the pond

half in shade from the

trees along the trail

A clear sky with a chill

Deer foraging, small shoots

of green grass, lingering still

Some settled on ground

in the growing warmth

of the rising sun

Morning was quiet

as if birds were keeping secrets

flitting from branch to branch

across the field as we hiked