Bearing

Track made by bears,
westerly heading,
follow the settling sun—
on and on.

Thickets of berry tear
at skin, garb.
Forest silent of bird
with birch, ash, oak, beech, pine.

Occasional squirrel chitters, scatters.
Pass through, touching
textured barks,
leaves, needles.

Path indistinct,
woven close twixt
tree and brush; hugging
topographic lines, clines.

Lean-to seen,
rickety, scrap and rough
hewn trunk, nailed animal
skins replace window glass, door.

Camp-style blanket bed, rough
wool, tracked with ash, droppings;
tiny table or stool
bears fancy, dusty bottle.

Pick it up—
antique marbles clink.
Unscrew, scoop one out—
hooked fingers.

Peer into dim glass ball.
Eye looks back,
seems to blink—
menace.

Drop, turn, exit quick.
Crash through thinning trees,
down widening path
to river’s bank.

Plunge in current’s
icy rip—footing lost.
Emerge. Stumble on.
Reach a wall—crenellated, tall.

Stone that’s chipped, chinked
aids purchase.
Start to climb—
fail to scale.

Fully dark, press a pause—
uneasy sleep; back against
still-warm wall,
knees chilled, sopping wool.