Donadagohvi

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Grande]You get my space          
my need for distance          
my thought process          
burning early morning ink          
across a wooden table          
until after-light breaks          
         
The creak of a door          
into a whitened vastness          
surrendering to winter          
gravity pulling my age          
from the interlocked          
housing of organics          
         
Yet there is that buck          
dusted with snow          
behind a bare branch          
and the skulk of foxes          
keeping distance          
from my open walk          
         
I can smell the ice          
in the slowing water          
my bones chilled          
in this simple meadow          
where I've retreated          
to offer poetic verse          
to dormant gods          
         
I hear the brush of moccasins          
stepping lightly upon the grass          
with the utmost respect            
daylight stretches into a yawn          
the time of leaving has come          
         
You’ll wrap me in a blanket          
of arms and hold me longer –          
the edge of the forest stirring          
with frigid hunger yearning          
for the taste of warm blood            
         
Smoke rises from your hearth            
the smell of tea and bread          
we'll share before mid-morning          
takes its toll on our schedule          
demands our attention          
         
You’ll lead me to the car          
you warmed yourself          
you’ll open the door          
but won't let me sit      
for another minute          
or two - or ten          
forehead to forehead          
no words; same breath            
         
Isn’t this what life is about          
the sounds of the living walking          
over dirt, chimney soot          
warm and gritty to the senses          
a reflection in a cabin window          
of lovers embraced in belief -          
"Donadagohvi"          
         
Then one left alone, watching    
the other depart, the other reflected    
through the rear-view mirror -          
distance swallowing them both           
~