They fall,

Innocent victims of the cold.

Yet, even in the waning moments before their end

They retain their poise and self‑respect.

As they smack against a surface,

Expiring with a slow, painful puff of air before our eyes,

We, the unknowing bystanders, are transfixed.

Death can sometimes be a beautiful act.

We see a morbid sense of attraction to their lonely,

 piece‑by‑piece demise.

It's a hard‑but‑haunting realization we come to:

Nature is cruel, yet brilliant.