The snow line drawn evenly along the branch
etched in winter-white ivory emptiness
dripping in perfect stark bite - pale / cold
i am a trumpeter swan
white bird on white sky
over
snow fields of the great plains
regal
fierce flyer
river rider
ko-hoh ko-hoh
floater
forager
ko-hoh
my mate--beside me always
we call the promise of spring
to a place in the sun, a nest in the canes
but we are the cool color of winter
shades layered in
pearl & lace
eggshell & isabelline
against
the
rhinestone smoke of this winter afternoon
ko-hoh ko-hoh
the snow falls
and
leads us home
ko-hoh
