Snow Child

My day's decision: Snowflakes
cold
wet
were an unpleasantness
that I intended to forego

Later I learned to walk on crusted
snow
and felt danger:
I could fall through
to silence
and I
was a talkative
child
2


When we did lay ourselves out
making angels, I was sure
that the devil might poke himself
up under mine!

The Naming
I do not know
If you are Katharine
or K.T.
or Kakky whose mother
tells of her dancing
I know only your name
that was chosen by queens
until someone
named you shrew
and you
dancing in your garden
did not resist
Shrewd shrouded
a worm spun silk
among poplar leaves
and the cottonwood sap sticks
to your tongue
bitter as cherries