walking in snow

shutting down
time to walk in the snow

make footprints where there are none
only the crooked marks of the dogs

mooch or joe the best of dogs

it is good coming down this slope

the dogs have been buried
how long now

oh these many years

today the leafless trees
gleam in the morning sun
with crowns of beaten gold

it is not surprising
the prints should appear this morning
old mooch and faithful joe

you have my meaning
where there is no coherence

just what is good to remember
or to forget

it is like this
you go alone in the morning
your thoughts running on and on

until they come wagging home

—From Walking in Snow, 2008