Pad touched toe and I followed up
from sock to out-stretched paw and red-golded hairs-
Eyes, such eyes . . .met mine and held them
in faith and hopeful love of common things

Oh, how this friend holds my eyes in spell!

Feet went to boots
arms to sweater and jacket
head to hat  hands to gloves
we soon brushed frozen snow
from our meadow’s leaved grasses
striding and leaping up hill
leaving tracks together
as my friend led on

My strange effort of readying soon was lost
in the wonder of my friend’s exquisite sensing-
mad dash after a squirrel in the windbreak
and that faithful turning, most always
pausing to keep me in range of sight

We each knew more than we could tell
but we did share it all—the two of us

I saw back to holding game
pheasant and sharptail-
such intense and focused stance
waiting and awaiting my coming

I heard again the report as cattail or stalks suddenly parted
who could not revel in that remembered excitement-
mine, as he came back gently holding our prize
his, it seemed, that he knew we were meant for this

We turned, now I led, and headed home.

Too soon, my friend, too soon
this whole being urged
and I see it all replayed in your eyes . . .
So sorry I cannot stay afield
all too soon was this shared excursion over.

But, oh, and how quickly you reinvent hope!

Wordless and with full tail action, you plead,
“So then, when can we go out again, together?”

rjs 2012