Winter's Soft Embrace: A Portrait of the Season

Andrea McCrickard

Winter's breath swirls through naked tree limbs, casting lacework shadows on glistening snow. Icicles glimmer, crystalline chandeliers hung from eaves. The world is muted and soft, wrapped in winter's downy embrace. 

Tire tracks etch ski slopes, zippered jackets swish through patches of powder. Snowballs arc overhead, powdery explosions bursting on impact. Rosy cheeks, dripping mittened hands, the crunch of boots breaking fresh snow. Sleds careen down hills, children's shrieks of delight echoing on the wind. 

Fires crackle in hearths, warming families nestled on sofas. Mugs of hot cocoa, cinnamon and sweet cream mingling together. Bellies full of hearty stews, the kitchen rich with the scent of cloves and bay leaves. Eyes crinkle with joy, hearts filled with the spirit of the season. 

Winter quiets the land, tucking it in under ermine wraps. But it stirs the soul, memories and nostalgia drifting down like snowflakes. Skates gliding, snow angels flapping. Joy is found in simple moments. Hot toddies warm from within as night falls early and the stars shine bright.