Winter Sunlight on the Trees (Poetry)

How generous is this ? —
bright winter sunshine wrapping round bare trees —
they stand in windless bliss —
no time more peaceful and more proud than these
few hours stroked and gilded, bough by bough
and every cold-shy twig touched by the gold
of slanting rays — the glory in them now
gives comfort since the year’s now grown so old
and faces frost — the hard, cruel nights ahead
forgotten for a moment in the shine —
each detail sharp before the light is bled
and shadows swarm to claim and redefine.