January Morning

Snow rests silent
in these trees
after making nothing
of the night.

A single path
of footprints
make their way home
to where the hearth
is kept burning,
abundant coals
burst into flame
at the first breath of air
or with a bit of new kindling.

And out in the woods
the chickadee and nuthatch chatter
waiting for the breezes
that will eventually come
to upset the quiet snow
and drop everything
to the floor of the forest--
where the fox
made his nest
after dark.