Skiing along the trail curving down hills
through pools of warm light cast by lamps
and darkness swimming on either side
slowly up hills surrounded by solid tree bones
a foil for the loose movement
on the edge of my sight.
The tropical night defying the snow on the ground
filling the air with the incense of pine and spruce
and then
there again
that wisp.
Now I stop and lean on my poles huffing
breath in big clouds and watch
remembering rumours of animals near town
fox coyote and wolf
one quick wink of eye light and I see the black
ghost out of the corner of my eye
turning slowly to see if it was just a shadow
the lone wolf held my eye for a moment
and then was gone in the fog and I had to
think about whether I had seen him
or not. Turning quickly now to find my young
child behind me wondering why I am stopped and
why I don't leave him now.

Angus (and alix) January 2, 2001