The dog plays fetch
I go slowly
barefoot in the forest
at night.
mornings
inhale
and run.
tonight,
distant suns
cool earth
the quiet
held under heavy happy panting.
the dog
drops her stick near my toes.
that desire to seek and find—
over and
over in the trees and brush—
is hard to ignore
as I step through the canopy.
so again
I throw
and she’s off to the dark
a joyful noise
of footfalls
echoing out to heaven.