today the marsh
had a viking
funeral - all the
trees and all
the brush floated
along in their
frozen beds of
ice. so when
you say that
winter only brings
death, you're right -
but the ice
that kills is
the ice that
carries and i
promise when it
comes time for
your burial you
will drift out
proud, victorious, a
conqueror even of
eternity

               and i
with my warm
hands and aching
heart

           will follow
you to valhalla
and far beyond.