shoveling snow
Ray Heinrich
today i was shoveling snow
and if you do it right
(lots of small scoops)
it’s good exercise
you know
it’s been the snowiest winter here
ever
well
i’m sure the ice age topped it
but at least since 1840
it’s been the snowiest winter here
so we
(my dog and i)
went out shoveling snow
(well, really, just me)
and i take one shovelfull
after another
and my rhythm works
with the rhythm of my heartbeats
one thousand
(scoop)
and one
(throw)
one thousand
(scoop)
and two
(throw)
and i don’t think
of anything but snow
white
crystals
fallen here
crystals
white
and me
shoveling them
the creation of the universe happens
while i’m shoveling snow
and the universe ends
while i’m still here
shoveling snow
it seems this whiteness
goes on forever
meaning i
go on forever
and then
the sun sets
with it’s beautiful clouds
“clothes for the sun”
my dead daughter whispers in my ear
whispers tonight when the moon is waiting
(the moon is her keeper now)
and she
is playing in the forest
happy in the moonlight
with all the others
and she tells me i
will join her soon enough
no need to hurry
please
do not be sorry for me
i have this moon
and am many times the jewel
here in the crown of heaven
as i ever was on earth
