Morning Trail Work

The artist and the engineer agree 

that their deep woods exists 

inside another darker woods. 

They are merely following

animal instinct, deer trails

tunneled through brambles,

tangled vines, ancient ferns.

Occasionally they find an empty  

glove or a child’s red mitten  

hung on a low branch to dry 

and wave away confusion.

[LSS, 1/10/21]

Evening Trail Work

I landed in stinging nettles 

when I fell over the edge—

this should have been a sign

that I was on the wrong trail,

but the trick to overcoming 

the pain is counting backwards 

through all the stories I ever 

told you about where exactly 

you might find me in this 

or any other world.

[LSS, 1/10/21]