snow chains

my father on his knees
wrapping snow
chains around the rear
tires is an image I have
of him.
cigarette in his mouth,
no gloves, a car jacket
on. his soft shoes.
the car running, a blue
cloud of exhaust
dirtying the snow.
I see him in the morning,
out there, trying
to get away, to get somewhere,
he's always been on the run,
just out of reach,
wrapping snow chains
around tires, clueless
about love
and what it takes to stay
home.