the long walk

i take

the dog for a walk.

it's cold,

it's snowing,

the wind blows,

but we keep walking.

down

the sidewalk, to the dirt

path

across the road,

to the woods,

past the playground,

the school,

we come out the other

side,

to the highway,

to the bridge,

we keep going, keep

walking.

the dog looks back

at me

and smiles.