Freeze-up

So there we were out in the bush. As usual. I was taking photographs of everything. Trying to fit everything in. The wasp nests. The frost. H was watching mayfly nymphs being swept from under the ice and into the culvert. It's a long way to May, I heard him say. At least I think that's what he said. Just at that moment the creek moaned. The lake moaned. It went on and on and on. Everything stood still. Black spruce. Willow. Alder. Heads bowed. Everything flushed.