Letras
For two long days the snow had fallen steadily on the hard ground
A rising wind had quickly whipped it into a blizzard, but now the
Flakes had stopped falling from the leaden skies and a winter sun
Was shining weakly. I walked down to the lonely loch, which was
Surrounded by the skeletons of leafless elms. The ice was thick
And firm though several inches of snow lay upon the smooth surface
Tracks of rabbits showed in the powdery snow, telling how they
Had crossed the ice to nibble the rhododendrons which grew in
Clumps in the water. Several mallards in company with a drake
Wigeon waddled across the ice, leaving small triangular tracks with
Their webbed feet. Here and there patches of clear black ice were
Showing where the wind had blown the snow away, in these places
Green waterweed was frozen on the ice. A faint mist was drifting
Over the loch, and the far end was almost hidden in hazy grey
Blankets. Suddenly there was a creaking sound and several ghostly
White shapes flew through the mist
The swans had returned from the sea