The Best-Loved Spot

WINTER ROARS HER BULLY-YELL TILL HER SKY FILLS UP DARK AS A WHALE
WHERE WOLF HAD WALKED AS DID MEN, THE TRACKS THEIR PAW AND FOOT DID PEN
OH OH OH OH OH NOW JUST LOOKS LIKE A ROAD AGAIN
WINTER FROZE HER FAVORITE WELL THEN BOARDED UP WITH TIMBER FELLED
HER FAVORITE WELL, HER BEST-LOVED SPOT THAT MILKED WHAT MOST HAD QUICK FORGOT-- OH OH OH OH OH
WHAT ONCE WAS BRIGHT AS SUN’S LAPEL AND WOKE US EVERY NIGHT TO TELL
US WHAT BEFALLS OUR SLEEPING SELVES NOW ARRIVES LIKE THE YEAR’S FIRST SNOW : APOLOGETIC UNDER TOE , FALLS DOWN DUMB, THEN MELTS RIGHT OFF
GONE GONE GONE GONE AND FORGOT GONE GONE AND FORGOT
GONE AND FORGOT GONE, HER BEST-LOVED SPOT
WINTER HOARDS HER LITTLE BIRDS IN SHIVERING UNSPEAKING HERDS
THEIR BONES SO PETITE AND POLITE FORM FISTS ROUND FIG-SIZED HEARTS ---OH OH OH OH OH
LIKE WARM CINDERS TUMBLING UPWARDS
OH WINTER RANG HER BULLY BELL AND FULLMOON'S FACE FELL QUIET AND PALE
AS A DOUBLOON BURIED IN BACKYARD with the BONES and the RAIN while the SMOKESTACKS RAISED
THEIR HALF-MILE FLAGS AT HALF MAST TILL ALL THE ICE CRACKED
THEN ALL the WELL-WISHING COINS FLEW UP IN A BRIGHT COPPER-NICKEL GEYSER
TO REMIND HER WHAT WAS
UP IN A BRIGHT COPPER-NICKEL GEYSER
the WELL-WISHING COINS
RANG HER BULLY BELL
AND WOKE US EVERY NIGHT TO TELL
US HOW OUR SLEEPING SELVES ARRIVE
AT OUR FAVORITE WELL, OUR BEST-LOVED SPOT
NOW GONE
GONE GONE GONE AND FORGOT
GONE GONE AND FORGOT
GONE AND FORGOT