I can tell by what’s in the air
I’d best pay attention today.
I feel as if I am prey and hunter;
nothing new there.
Who has not felt that dichotomy,
that ambiguous feeling
of when you carry yourself as
prey and hunter in stride?
I stretch like a bear waking,
sniff the air, remember where
I am, cast a suspicious eye
and ear to the four directions.
Make a sacrifice to time remembering
dreams and stories, finding
words like sign that take me where
I’ve never been. I have seen
and heard and felt and know things
I cannot speak of and yet
the urge to speak troubles me –
the healing water, the whirlpool
beside it, a foot touching each.
-Byron Hoot
