Winter trees, standing there. With your canopy of leaves stripped, your branches bare. You remind me of Samson when Delilah stripped him of his hair. Is your strength diminished in the same way? When the sun retires and blue skies have turned to grey. Your trunk and branches in summer, used as a hiding place for feathered birds; And squirrels that are grey and furred. Your branches once bearing fruits of gold. Stripped bare you look solitary and old. You have a look of elegance whilst waiting for the earth to warm. When you will once again become mother natureβs store, birds and bees visiting in their flocks and swarm. A miracle of nature. A glorious portraiture.