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.
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