through forest
over boardwalk
planks
ribbon of wet
tree bone trail
toward unseen but
heard, felt and expected
rush of sea
beyond last
stand of
swaying spruce
held close to
my chest, young
Finn stares up
mouth agape
at the canopy
of light and
dark
“treeeees” i say
to his broad
two-toothed
grin
small steps
leave light prints
of boots and also
snowflakes
becoming
slush
then
water
on
boards
under
pressure
to repel
resist
persistent
strength of rot
in the air
one dog
returning
from beyond
sight
with wild eyes
full of surf and swell
ears raised straight
bend in sudden gust
fall and rise again
listening for my
voice through
the earth’s
will we go
on? to where
the sea breaks
apart on the beach
or turn our
back to the mighty
wind,
play our hands
across trembling
hemlock dwarfs
and be carried
home by
suggestion
of sea swell
unseen?
_________
Jonas Lamb 