Winter woods

  From a distance the winter woods look like dull compositions in brown and gray, but a closer view reveals variety--sun-dappled oak leaves ranging from rust to brown to beige, green mosses and ferns clinging close to the ground, lichens camouflaging rocks and limbs, violet brambles reaching across the path to sink thorns into a careless hiker's legs. The woods are mostly quiet this time of year except when hunters invade bringing orange vests and gunshots, but today the only sounds are the crunch and slap of bodies moving through dry leaves. From a distance the woods look insipid, but look out: there's treasure inside.