We have a rental car, and thank you, no
we won't get out. We can see the animals
quite well from here.
We cinch up the lapbelts.
No way we'd turn back on a quarter tank.

I have you and you have me,
and we have, suddenly,
a slowed-down moment.

What was that waterfall doing?
Oh, just exploding
its veil of ice.

*****

Cruise control, lipstick — after what'll need to be
a last kiss, we drive into the very nexus
of the nest: scrappy twigs, string.
And what?! — is that a claw?
Do we just drive on ?
Drive through ?

*****

Pump and pay; sign and leave.
There was a day for the lake
and we could go around,
spy the rich folks'
ballcaps. We could smell
our brethren. Never be
without the smell.
Coupon. Moon-pull.
Cash back and the needle north.

E for East. We've gone around.
Some trip. This traveling toward, this
never but nearly approaching
whatever the barely alive
had lived this long to see.