taking a walk

you carve your initials into the tree
along the path where you walk
to get away from people.
although occasionally people
will pass by. but it's okay,
they never wave, or say hello,
or try to talk. they are from
around here, and so it's impolite
to be friendly around these
parts. if they were from the south,
or west, well, that's a
different story. you'd be standing
there all day talking
about the weather and God.
so, you carve your initials into a tree
with a swiss army knife
someone gave you for Christmas.
you put a plus sign under the letters.
then stop. you don't put the date.
the rest will come later.
everything is still undecided.
everything. you continue on your walk.