For a Dog Who Is Still Here

The north wind drives him back upon his track
to visit every scent he missed before.
The snow is deep, the ice is black,
and we are many paces from our door,
and I would rather take a different tack
than linger longer here beside the shore.
But he is old, and soon may leave the pack,
so I will stay with him and wait a little more.

January 7 2010