Devotions

Meanwhile,

rut-tugged moose press

against velvet sky dens

sounding hoofed ridges 

into aspen-tined bends,

earth-spruced 

and wallowed.

Meanwhile,

scents uncurl 

into ermine-river whirl

cottonwood fur-berry

to silver stone burl,

sinewy and root-needled 

grey bark against snow.

Meanwhile,

alder-quaked lynx face 

whiskered tracks, cloud-paced

meadowing and climbing

into criss-crossed moss space,

lichen-twisted and

owl-lit.

Meanwhile,

bear hemlock push strewn

as leaf-long shadows tune

mountaining the coarse hairs

of a sea spray willow moon

tide-opening cracked birch

across starry-spun sky

— to hop-quivery and scree-growl,

wing-sighted and fin-howl,

all huff-ruffling the meanwhiles

into furthering.