On a long, icy winter’s night
I, a traveler, find myself in the canyon of loss
with only my dog as a companion.
It is strewn with boulders large and small.
I am blocked from spring’s verdant valley.
I know it exists; I have seen it in my dreams.
Snow and ice blanket the canyon’s stones.
I stumble along the treacherous track,
faint as moon’s shadow.
The trail takes us up and down, whips
us from one direction to another. At times,
I just want to lie down in the cold, go to sleep.
My dog won’t let me; there is no one else
to care for him.
Soon, the route becomes straighter but still rocky.
I learn to step only on flat stones, keeping
my balance. Finally, my eyes on the mouth
of the canyon, I begin to see the dewy grass
in the valley’s basin. The dog and I enter,
knowing spring will soon green the valley’s floor.
Loyalhannah Review
2025
