Work Day

Sound of my voice:

Wag of his tail.

We walk in the early dark.

He leads.

The bears sleep

And the deer

And the squirrels

But not the neighboring dog

With his glowstick collar

And a woman.

He reads the story

Of the sleeping earth

With every breath.

I leave him for work,

Wondering across every mile

About those who sleep.

I am looking for the bear.