Bundling up we hiked, wary of thin ice, with trepidation, hardly intrepid,
on the frozen river to the North Pool, noting prints in the snow: deer, mice, rabbit.
Many birch and poplar with some elm, oak, maple and ash; hardly any evergreens
Not soundless, actually, but quiet ... you could say peaceful. Merilee had skates, not I.
She needed activity; not I.
Putting on her skates she continued wondering: what about supper, where will we sleep?
About three inches of snow dragged at her skates.
Nevertheless twirl, jump, swoop on ice how thick, over water how deep?
I wished I had skates too.