Print

to the road return breathe

over the bloody footprint and return

to the black ribbon edge

northeast home

often movement          this way

you the traveler become the bloody print

that you were here and left a living sign

what made the wolf paw bleed though

is what brought you here to the mystery

and what calls you away          the ricochet

the ocean singing in the bare trees

singing the losses that register as human

and what comes after                          becomes

becomes)

the moment that made the paw print

and the moment it imprinted in you

tying off the moments in between

                                    now becomes then

in the wet stillness of your breathing

kneeling over   and under        the stain

inhale

                                                            stain

become

breathe                                    return

face the child standing in the snow staring

at the child in you staring back.