Walking on Water

 --Tricia Knoll

      

Wait for ice to paralyze

the pond, for the crackling

thinness to thicken

so the under-water moans.

Scuffle through rice-snow

where slush went solid

around someone else's boot.

Hike around the hockey rink

and the men and children ice fishing

beside coolers of beer and chips.

Let the lake lure you

away from the eyes of cabins,

from smoke signals

fanning from chimneys.

January's water strider,

as small as the lake makes you

hidden in a hooded coat.