Stretching my elbows alongside my head,

Fighting the need to rise from my bed

I spy, in the large picture window ahead

The sight I have dreaded, and dreamed...

I hastily wriggle my flannel gown down,

Notice one sock has slipped to the ground

But pad to the window, with barely a sound

And stand enrapt, at that sere scene!

The world, like the screen on a Fifties Philco

Has gone white and black, naught but shadows and snow!

My red, gold and ochre, tell me, Where did they go?

As my coffee I sip, newly-made...

Treebeard whispers to me, a vixen slinks by

A haunted expression alive in her eye

My heart reaches out to her, and my mind's eye

Wonders, how far from your den have you strayed?

Do your kits cry alone? Has your mate taken leave?

For your sad situation, I can't help but grieve,

And ask, How could I ALL of your hungers relieve?...

As I watch you pounce down through the snow.

I love all you creatures, four-footed and two,

The fisher, the ferret, the marten, the gnu

Contemplating your lives, as I'm so wont to do

As I back to my blue blanket go!

So the scene that I dreamed

When mind strayed, has new-made

my heart go to the snow--

Nemantic's blue blanket!