COMING BACK

I follow your early morning path
up the wet gravel road
marking off your steps
each pair punctuated
by the Diamond Willow walking stick I carved
for your elder journey
This one an exclamation
here a kind of question mark
and just here—where you paused
to enjoy the same Oriole I hear--
the iron point makes a definite period
and here—where the deer's track explodes
churning up the soil
I read your message about the wolf
We need to meet coming back
to share this story
before time
and the rains and the County grader
scrapes away our memory--
rubs us out altogether