~*~

After a deep and peaceful sleep, I
stepped out of my lake-side cabin
into the sunlight of a beautiful
winter morning. The sparkling air
filled my senses like crisp, white
wine, and the endless sky was a calm,
unclouded blue. The pure hushed world
of winter was comforting as I savored
the peace and tranquility of a silent
forest blanketed by snow. Stately
pines, with their mantle of white,
appeared as sable-clad sentinels
guarding the virginity of this
untouched land. As I walked around
the frozen shoreline, the serenity
of the scene affected me deeply. Far
from the maelstrom of human existence,
a cleansing energy washed through me
and I began to feel renewed.

These days in the snow-covered wilderness
have had a restorative effect on me,
and once again, I am
filled with the joy
of living.

~*~