February 4

Now the thaw has come, the trees enjoy themselves.

They take their time, slowly shrugging off the snow in sudden thumps of snow. They love to surprise the birds and people passing under; a direct hit and every fibre of their wood shivers with excitement.

And all the while they drip, drip, drip, amused to be raining down on the world and not being rained on, for a change. The huge immoveable trunks and branches have now become clouds.

Every tiny bump of a growing leafbud smiles.