Yukon Moonlight Madness
Trapper’s code:
“Arrive on time!”
– “Don’t look for me if no-show,
– might be a ‘corpsical’.”
Can I live with myself with no-show?
–
‘Twas crisp Christmas Eve,
a cold thirty Celsius below,
ears alerted for skidoo sounds.
The night light deepened,
vast forest hushed,
snow iridescent
in the full moonlight.
–
Load survival gear.
First time, ten night-miles to his cabin
into twenty thousand square miles,
mountain wilderness
to the northeast.
Solo skidoo trek
in the full moonlight.
–
Neck hairs stood straight up.
She imagined wolf pack, quick look back
as skidoo raced into deep snow.
Machine and muscle,
pull and throttle,
snow released its grip
in the full moonlight.
–
His cabin was dark.
A door creaked open, his white long johns
were luminescent, was stooped over.
The oil lamp lit, heard
profane swear words,
his hair spiked wolf-like
in the full moonlight.
–
Trapper’s code:
“Arrive on time!”
– “I must go now, you’re all right,
– no ‘corpsical’ seen here.”
I can live with myself with no-show!
–
Her cabin in sight!
The feared illusive wolves were the sounds
of wild ptarmigan flocks dancing
amongst willow shrubs,
she smiled and laughed.
A sound sleep and dreamed
in the full moonlight.
Poem Style: Lyric
