Snow Fairies

The snow fairies shed their winter-wear of white

            and emerge from the caves and crevices they huddled

            in below the snow, below that pile of leaves we left

            in the corner of our yards, creeping out unseen in winter sun,

            short days, to feed the birds and small animals, mice and vole,

            the sparkle of new fallen snow, as they scurry out and back;

and now, clothed in spring, they stretch in the sunlight,

            that glimmer we see in the early morning, rising at the pink

            of dawn, a quick glance but seeing nothing; it is their wings,

spread wide, aflutter in the light of a new day reflected,

their secret shared with those of us watching,

            still, quiet, early rising and believing.