A chill emerges.
The air freezes
Then the Earth disappears.
The ground becomes stone.
Companions stand bare and silent

Arms once stretched out,
Waiting to embrace another,
Now stand frozen in stillness.
Curling inward
In search of warmth.

This is a rhododendron plant just outside of my window. This winter, as the ice covered the ground and remained that way for weeks, the leaves of this evergreen wrapped up into little straws, protecting itself from the freezing temperatures. I had never seen so many little hugs adorn a branch like this.

Happy Monday.