the first bird
to break silence . . .
hour of the wolf

icesnow —
the stab marks
of her pronged cane

flashlight shadows
the storyteller’s head
fills the ceiling

moonless night
the splinter deep
in my finger

deep winter
the splinter begins
to fester

rain turning to snow
a beggar in the subway
that no one believes

winter stars
we all hunt
for his belt

winter beach —
the size of gulls
up close

winter sun
the IV pouch
buckles

home village
nowhere to visit
but the graveyard