a shadow of wings

I sat waiting
drinking ice water
looking out at the sky
my mind a million miles away
and a million miles wide
and the future, far off
kept its distance and pace

The chill came and went
between finger-taps
something flew between me and the sun, perhaps

a man stepped over my future grave
private property
bleak
way out in a woods
with more needles than trees
pine barrens
no leaves
just a dry, springy crunch
underfoot
unease
in a weak, winter sun
felt a chill and stopped cold
looked around, wondered what
fate had taken hold
brought him out so far
brought him so far out

with a shovel in hand
and with no living thing
left in heart or in mind
left in fear or in doubt
he stood till the mood passed, and then
he looked down

with decision, out loud
out of doubt, out of fear
he said:
"Here will do.
Here."