The ground froze overnight
the wind turned sharp
and slaps the house
as ice flies in the air
but there were milder days
just weeks ago
when rain hung in the trees
the path walked soft
and we slept better until dawn
able then to turn away
from government and news
to lose ourselves in woods and sky
a privilege of our age
a faith hard won
and rare upon the earth
convinced we had escaped
through chance and grace and zen
the history of men.
