[Walking the woods on an early spring dry day, the slopes behind Lanes Landing Farm on the Kentucky River, with Tanya and Wendell ]
Under dead leaves Tanya finds a tortoise
Matching the leaves--legs pulled in--
And we look at woodchuck holes that dive
under limestone ledges
seabottom strata,
who lives there brushes furry back
on shell and coral,
Most holes with leaves and twigs around the door,
nobody in.
Wendell, crouched down,
sticks his face in a woodchuck hole
"Hey, smell that, it's afox!"
I go on my knees,
put the opening to my face
like a mask. No light;
all smell: sour--warm--
Splintered bones, scats? feathers?
Wreathing bodies--wild--
Some home.
