frozen river

Negotiating overflow on the Koyokuk River, Brooks Range, Alaska — March 1989 — photo by author©

frozen river lets me travel

on her winter backbone waters

five head strong

and river-wise

the dogs rush on

and read the ice

seeking out the safest path

through overflow and crags

avoiding pushed-up shards

sharp as knives

all of us but frost-bound ghosts

gliding onward

onward

chasing puffs of frigid breath

on this bony river

into silence

into white

into self

and into beauty

unforgiving