Like a water skipper
I skimmed the pond,
where reflections of warmer 
days and months were locked.
I pumped and pushed
the scoop and curling snow
until creaking ice
forewarned of traveling on.
I passed my farthest skipping splash,
my longest cast, and where my bobber
popped a hundred times.  I turned back
and plowed another grey-green stripe
across tongues of cabin lights
and cloudy tracks of storms.
across steepled evergreens
and lacey fringe of golden trees.
I turned back and back again,
until laughter bounced
its welcome song
across the pond.