72 micro-seasons 68

Janey...

Frozen rivulets - 

the sound of running water

silenced this cold dawn

Kit...

Dusk, and I'm out watching the huge ping-pong moon pull up the first of the evening stars as she rises into the chill dark blue

Beverley...

Hoar frost as far as the flat fields stretch. Windless space.

Angie...

World is sprinkled white

Frozen in animation

Sun melts bitter heart

Helen...

Sky seems full of ice

Sun slants, and look! A barn owl

Perched unsteadily.

72 micro-seasons 67

Janey

Icy north wind, white

snow on the distant mountains My gaze turns seaward

Helen...

Three fat birds scrabbling

for scraps on snowy cobbles.

Hunger drives them down.

Kit...

Birdfoot tracks - twig moulds - in the frost-whiskered snow, this bright morning

Beverley...

The crunch of boots and paws over frosty grass and leaf fall.

72 micro-seasons 66

Janey...

Early quince blossom in my neighbour's hedge, already the promise of my autumnal jellies

Kit...

The Eden is a murky torrent for our first swim of the new year. We hug the bank as woody debris hurtles past in the fast lane ...

Jane...

Thick cold droplets fall on birches above the river.

Helen...

Streaky sunlight gives way to sleet - wind lifts brown river water and makes back-to-front waves.

Beverley...

The sky in an accelerated rush to outrun the whiplashing rain.

72 micro-seasons 65...

Janey

In sheltered corners

secret optimistic shoots

remember the spring

Helen

Tiny pink rhubarb stem, vivid green leaf against darkness of soil.

Beverley 

The day hangs still and damp again; a short, stem of cow parsley blooms.

Jane

The guests have gone. Washing billowing in the breeze.

Kit

The joy of winter colour - a field of green and purple beet under a high blue sky, sprinkled with vapour trail kisses

72 micro-seasons 64

Janey...

Storms and sunshine chase each other with wild abandon across the bay

Helen...

Wind and rain give way to bright skies, and the fell tops are dusted with snow.

Kit...

Through the bare birch cloisters we tramp, mulching spent leaves underfoot, our tuppenny-bit hopes for tomorrow 

Jane...

Droplets take in all the light from a dull sky, glittering silver in the hedgerow

Beverley...

Gusting wind loosens the dawn cloud cover and slashes of bold, bright blood orange and crimson excite the sky.

72 micro-seasons 63...

Janey...

The waves are galloping wild white horses, after last night's angry gale. The sun strikes gold shafts among the silver

Jane...

Hedges a criss-cross tangle of faded purple, dressed in bridal shroud of sticky-willy lace. Crowds of nettle stalks stand to attention at their side.

Beverley...

Crows cruise with precision a breath above flat fields of wheat shoots. Elsewhere, ivy twists among unkempt brambles.

Kit...

A tiny fawn jumps into our path, approaches on pick-up-stick limbs, then pivots, and off ... 1,2,3 boing, 1,2,3 boing, its powder puff butt aloft

Helen...

In the woods an imperceptible breeze makes treetops creak. Heron rises on his ancient wings, silent above the river.

'Tribe'

It's getting late, and

when I look into their eyes

I still can't find you