Preseason

climbing the CAT track

between ski runs

signposted in four colors

past pipes & solar

ready to make snow

the nature center’s

taxidermied beasts

blue jays high on birches

needle ice bursting

thru autumn soil

nine of us reach the top

of Stark Mountain

three dogs, six people

we’re not together

except geographically

we share a dress code

zippers galore

multi-pocketed packs

bright merino beanies

in 36° sunshine

on a Stark’s Nest bench

eating designer snacks

the signal strong

for well-thumbed phones

at least three of us

slip & fall on ice

we’re okay, nothing broke

no missing pieces

the dogs — off leash

day-glo sweatered

nose to earth — ignore

our hubris, our greed

just as we ignore

every coral reef

every atoll nation

every climate refugee

destined for squalor

thanks to our behavior