Freeze-dried vegetable soup
The snowstorm catches us
聽with tent down, fire out.
聽The lake is churned white,
聽and in the half-dark
聽shouting commands above the wind
聽we secure our sailing tent to the earth.
Inside, the water achieves its boil slowly
聽like our long climb out of the valley 鈥�
聽switchbacks riding ridge after ridge.
聽The soup is a steamy garden
聽filling our tent with aromatic arguments
聽against the cold. And now the tightness
聽which has grazed at our corded necks
聽begins to release 鈥�
聽a long sigh of expectations eased.
Outside, the elements are a jealous howl
聽hurled through the darkness,
聽as we lie ensconced in warm down bags.
聽With dawn the storm is gone
聽our tent stands still 鈥�
聽a white sail on the edge of a blue lake.
