Head high or more,

three or four inches wide at its top

to steady the hiker,

the stalk should converge downward

to spear sharpness,

 

yet thick enough to leave lines

back to trail head

where the hiker began,

where he’ll leave

that twisted artifact

for another fist to lift tomorrow

or years from now,

 

to curl a grip and test its strength

stabbing through snow crust

deep enough to find frozen ground

until an elbow stops it, until a head

snaps upright.

 
 
 
 
 

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