Assignment

Driving past

The hills and chimney smoke mingling

With the earth’s waking breaths

I can feel the crisp road crunch

Under the tires, as I turn slowly

Remembering that time

When the road spun me off into the grove

Of maple saplings

Cresting the hill saved for neighbors’ graves

Sunrise

Welcome

While the condensed snow clouds slumber in the valley

Spilling over the sides of the loping hills

Sunbathing, not reaching the bottom of the valley

As I weave my way along the thin road

Looking at the underbellies, spent and sleepy

The roosters hear the rutted gravel driveway welcome me

And hurry, jabbering for first place

I scatter the grain slowly, watching the fiery necks glisten

Sunlight rising

Over the East hill

Spikes of sudden frost illuminated on the garden fence

And the rain barrel sketched with ice

Sunrise