Protest

I can’t go anywhere for a day, 

Day or two

Unclear, 

The whims of February

But in this momentary stasis

I am flying on an aeroplane 

With that strange relief of perspective 

Knowing that all is out of my control

I begin my telling because this is a 

Terrifying beautiful beauty here, 

Everywhere

In ice, these days of grey then

Flour-sifting snow, then rain, 

Graupel, 

Sleet and 

Patterning ice

Mind you when I tell you this is new

The plains woman’s wiring, mine, telling

This is weather that is new. 

And we are deep in ice, then snow 

To ice that melts a bit, freezes, and then snow, 

And on. 

Denny came down to drag Peter’s truck

Spun out on ice

Taking hay to the goat barn

Back to a spot unblocking the long drive 

Toward the other barns and 

All feels settled for the moment. 

Everywhere there is nothing 

But rolling sheen, bluing into dark, 

Our land of ice pure and pristine right now

In the deep out there 

My head beginning to clear

In the heart

Though I’ve no idea 

What lies on the horizon.