the mirror

the early days of spring
are my annual cue
to resume 
my two-wheeled commute

spring’s warmth has
long since melted 
winter’s last gasp
upon the cityscape
of concrete and asphalt
so i descend into the valley
carrying on oblivious 
like one caught unaware 
of their undercurrents

i

i encounter
hard packed snow
trodden down by early risers
tenuous yet traversible
bumps me from oblivion

bounced around by the 
unexpected of each day

ii

the boundaries of the path 
still powdery
unexplored territory

like the endless discoveries at the
edges of our being

iii
slushy footprints 
belying tenuous travelers
now iced over 
in the cold 
of the night
like stalagmites sharply pointed
eager to immobilize

hardened by hurt already
i avoid the risk of further loss

iv

on the undulating slopes
i had to unclip
to face slick, smooth ice
that once was moving
melting water
dribbling across the path
the way forward
trapped beneath
layers of spring runoff 
frozen one upon the other

just like the layers of encasement
i build over 
the untouchable and too difficult

v

at long last
i emerge from the valley
returning to well-travelled asphalt
the rays will find their way
to the valley, too
unfurling the fingers of winter’s
grip on me

Written by Scott Moore
Illustrated by Landon Wideman

Inspired March 2024