winter

Winter breaks things. It tests what’s real.
My breath lifts like a smoke signal to the gods. Snow under my boots. Ice under my tire. Evergreens stand watch, dark and touring, a cathedral of cold and white.

The wild is awake. Bears somewhere. Close enough to feel. I’m never alone.
Frozen beard bleeds into the long curly lamb. Horsehide carries the scars, every mile, every close call, every bad decision survived.
Heaven.
Real.
A dream.
Living.