New Year's Day

Walked out into the woods to draw.

  

Wanting this to be fun and restorative.

(What was I thinking ?)

The winter woods are so silent, so cold, so stark . . .

Now back in the house

cat purring and stretched out next to me - fire crackling -

I relax into indoor comfort.

But just staying in can get insular and closed.

Going out into winter woods is a touching - a gazing -

upon the loneliness of life -

and I feel stronger for it.