On thin ice

 

The Sámi told me
to pay attention
to the bear and the elk
— also to the wolf
he had tracked an old one
prowling for a last kill —
but above all to
pay attention to
snow-covered ponds
their surface ice too thin
yield under the weight
— the Sámi said to be quick
with the puukko, wedge it
deep into the ground
before the pond swallows
and snowfall covers it all
— he said to be weary
of clearings and circles of trees
follow the tracks, if any
— even that of the bear
for they knew where to tread

but the moon had bewitched me
draped in faint clouds and auroras
pearl white pupil pulsing
in the benthic blue dome
clouds an extension
of the mountains
snow lining the rifts
pine trees like raised down
on bare, pure white skin
the blanket of rime
groaning underfoot
much like
cracking ice —