beauty in pale

all that beautiful snow

that graced us at christmastime

and after, and through this horrid flu

is melting now

january thaw 

this is what an elder dog does 

watches, listens, sniffs.

her eyes are cloudy

her hearing leaving,

but she loves both snow and wind.

oh, and me.

rock book minus ermine

this gift was mine

after leaving sea level

more or less to here, 700 feet.

wild clouds split bright the sky

i steer up my drive

spot the rocks waiting for their pages. 

 a flash of long white muscle and 

 black paintbrush disappears under this foundation

one moment

out it ran into the garage, 

i waited with camera

you never know when grace appears, 

and if you're waiting, well, it just vaporizes.

rock book five

minus ermine.