Children Feeding Birds on Skis

"What a distressing contrast there is between the radiant intelligence of the child, and the feeble mentality of the average adult." Freud

MOUNTAIN PRACTICE WITH DHEEZUS AND SAMMIE

Sunshine and dry powder

disconnects us early. After

missing each other, I head

for High Camp, knowing

you will find me. I pull

my notebook from

backpack and wait.

Bashō stops at Yamadera,

charged spot—he backtracked

seven miles at Obanazawa,

sits on rocks surrounded

by old pines and Oaks.

Over coffee on pine table

I remember the breakfast

you two fixed this morning,

gourmet toast, raspberry jam,

yogurt and juice. Waiting

for you, a lift operator enters,  

tells me you checked in

they know where to go,

what to do. I hang my pack

on a hook by the map

and get back on skis.

You’ve already called

ski patrol, put out

the call to find Grandpa.

You find my pack

on the hook, borrow a phone

and make your call to me.

When I return

the two of you have lunch

almost ready. Sammie’s

under the microwave

re-setting the fuse

heating pizza. Tiny

cups of honey at table

for each of us. After

lunch we head out

for snow

that’s deep and dry,

snow that lifts and carries.

Jim Bodeen

13 March 2019