Lines for Winter
    for Ros Krauss

 Tell yourself

as it gets cold and gray falls from the air

that you will go on 

walking, hearing 

the same tune no matter where 

you find yourself—     

inside the dome of dark  

or under the cracking white 

of the moon's gaze in a valley of snow.

Tonight as it gets cold 

tell yourself   

what you know which is nothing  

but the tune your bones play  

as you keep going. And you will be able  

for once to lie down under the small fire  

of winter stars.  

And if it happens that you cannot

go on or turn back  

and you find yourself  

where you will be at the end,  

tell yourself

in that final flowing of cold through your limbs 

that you love what you are.