on turning 36

On the night I turned 36
I dreamed of a snowy hillside
on a small country road where my
grandmother once lived. I climbed

until I could go no further and
looked  down to see the Auto-
Nomen waiving from the bottom
of the hill. He motioned

to his left and I turned to find a
set of ropes fastened to the icy
rocks, extending into the blue-
white sky above. I continued

onward without asking why or
how someone I knew so little
would do so much to help me
find my way. I woke

at 4:37 and put my hand on
my wife's stomach to feel
our daughter dancing alone
in the unborn night. I prayed

that I might serve as hemp
and fleece and help her on
her journey and protect her
from the cold.