The Old Lady of the Forest Listens for Winter

The Old Lady of the Forest Listens for Winter

The old lady of the forest
bows her face to the low winter sun
breathing the still, cool air
silent brown eyes
drinking in the drifting coppers
and fluttering gilts

She is not a phantom,
a fairy queen
or dappled unicorn
She inhabits the natural realm
larger than life
stalking the falling leaves
delicately, despite age
and oversized snowy feet
dappled light
shimming on her glorious
copper velvet coat
autumn’s last breath
whispering
through her silver mane
tickling her ears

The old lady of the forest smiles,
bowing her head in peace
for the winter wind is waiting
in the wings
to fly in on the tail of a storm,
and steal any lingering gold
Her gentle face bathed in low sun
remembering twenty green springs,
twenty blue summers
and twenty one gilded falls
toiling among these same trees
where now she is free to roam

Her old faithful heart
beats regular, if a little slow
full of love for this dear quiet place
with it’s magical seasons
In a moment she will retrace
her steps through the moss and tangle
stirring not a leaf
on her precious copper floor
back along the boundary path
towards a welcoming face
holding open the warm stable door

The old lady of the forest
is no painted unicorn
she is a grand old dam,
retired workhorse,
out to golden pasture
forevermore

© FCS 2009

Composite image using two original shots of my own, uniting forest & equine muse….began as a wee story that needed a face!

The Old Lady of the Forest Listens for Winter belongs to the following groups:

All Original Blends, Animal Fantasy & Whimsy, Equine Art and Photography, Everything Draft Horse & Carriage, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Simply Horses and The Scots are Coming Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints