EXERCISE IN JANUARY

I ran myself
in brown
and frazzled leaves,
with my dog
flying
right beside me,
we both
bounding
new and warm
in that old world,
in that cold wind,
from rock to rock
to green waters
glittering
like sandpaper,
and we both
near those waters,
moving
by a dear quire
of muffled creatures
caroling
in January grass
(O why the dream
in a body meant to die?)
and we both
on those waters,
like glorious spiders
leaping
and weaving
our sweet breath
in rays
of the shattered sun.