the last forest of winter

beneath arched icicle-laden branches,
trees bowing toward their partners,
crawl two snowsuits encasing humans
delicate laughs escape from these cocoons
to dance with intricate flakes falling from the canopy above.

ice coats the densely-packed crystals on the forest floor
slide-crawls give way to inching low
as the cocoons slither between leaning trees, 
through the one remaining opening
- the forest's invitation to a secret realm.

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