Spruce Grouse Frost

Both winter’s firm grip and a feel-your-way fog 

has opened this ridge 

like a waning moon’s face, seemingly still

yet steady it treads in vaporous steps 

until it spruce grouse thunders with heart-thrumming startle

leaving winging banks ruffled with hoary ice vanes 

who by instinct molecular offer this ground

casting freeze into flight

like dawn as it claims the clear sky from night.