FEBRUARY ON WILDMOOR HEATH Across the Heath the chill'ed land is sleeping The cyclic pattern of seasonal life bespeaking Bushes hunched, bare trees holding themselves still Not restrained by death but life's farseeing will The grasses, sedge and reeds withered dried and tawny Soft shades of creative design worthy of Armani Only holly and pine maintain pigmentation verdant Not yet time to select a spectrum more divergent With wisdom all life employ a cautious strategy Not now to challenge the relentless advance of entropy They bide their time, for the moment they can wait 'TIl it's time for Gaea to put pedal to the plate In a score of days and nights life will be stirring The survival drive restored and action spurring Mother Nature will awaken stretch and yawn But for now deepest sleep is just before the dawn