the day is grey and whirled in white.
ahead of us, life delights and runs,
cavorting through the drifts of wind.
hot breath melts the frozen air
in puffs of dragon mist
that shatter just as soon as formed.
we tramp the ski tracks down the open field,
breaking for the fence,
then coalescing back into our trio,
barging over ragged ruts and furrows
hardened into mountain ranges--
agriculture's Alps & Himalayas.
four-footed joy bounds on ahead,
a puppy reborn every winter's morning.
behind us, up the hill, the house still rears forbidding;
escaped, we're far enough away
that all its powers cannot smirch our happiness;
even when we're turned back in the wind
to start the long ascent. our guide's delight
charms us safe. the white deletes the shadow
and dusk has none to throw. one minute heaven
is grey and white; the next, cold blue and starlight.
life skylarks, running on into the future, safe
in the gleaming frost of dragon's mist
re-forged out of silvered clarity