retriever
Going about your work
in the clothes God gave you,
stepping gingerly from
paw to paw, nose to the
air, you’re surprised only
by the size of it all.
A pheasant starts. Grass parts
where deer lay curled in the
lap of the world last night,
and here’s their trail still fresh
to the waterside where
you pause — you’ve trained for this
— wade foot–deep, take a drink,
leap out again. But what
to bring back from this day?
Decision made, you lead
your heart along with you
and leave it at our feet.