The Recession Begins

There is indeed a dock beneath that ice

November last it was about four inches above the lake's surface

but the lake level steadily rose through the fall

right into freeze up

Forty eight hours of continuous thaw

completely changes the look of this reality

solid to liquid

with but two degrees positively positioned 

leaving sixty odd inches of snowfall melted upon the ice

And then just at sunset

there is a burst of robins winging in from the west

small flocks

first a five

then a twenty

another five

and another

landing high in the big toothed aspens they pause

silently as if keenly scouting ahead for the 

all clear

from others ahead in their path
then hurtling off across the lake

cackling their fellows on