WE FOUND PEACE BUT NO VALLEY

We Found Peace
but no Valley


Dressed in winter gear
scarf
hat
double jackets
boots
triple socks
spare gloves
stuffed into hip pockets -

mittens colored red
dog brought his
own coat -
walking down,
down
you said,
a valley here?
down,
down.

Just wore this coat, and
wind is fierce in the forest -
forgot the axe
we - are - lost,
aren't we?

Snow Is crusted…
feet chewing
into thin slices
of white
ice
colder.
snow,
shimmers
colors
of a rainbow -
rain is far
from here.

These eyes - can make
sun melt snow -
if I dream -
sleep in the valley?
No valley
here.

Yesterday you had the map
plans drawn.
I thought you
double checked
before we left
home?
You - are - so
wrong

Black ink -
last years;
the real one fell
behind the bedpost
last night.
I thought you knew?

Grab the paper sack
eat baloney sandwiches
build a tent -
taught how in girl scouts

don’t laugh - I have to pray
on my knees,
Grandmother taught me,
never practiced much.

Forgive him for misplacing the
road map, and can you send a
little sun?
Maybe change the seasons,
or even, fly over us
lead us home?

Nancy Duci Denofio
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