Geese

Dream ended, I went out, awake
To new snow fallen in the dark,
Stainless on road and field; no track
Lay yet on all my day of work.

I heard the wild ones muttering,
Assent their dark arrival made
At dawn, gray dawn on dawn-gray wing
Outstretched, shadowless in that shade,

Down from high distances arrived
Within the shelter of the hill;
The river shuddered as they cleaved
Its surface, floated, and were still.