The dog licking his paws cold from the snow
tucked in next to him on the bottom bunk
reading his Rolling Stone 90s edition
a reprint of past articles zeroing in on that nostalgia factor
Britney Spears, Tupac Shakur, Red Hot Chili Peppers, & Nirvana of course
Bill Callahan playing from the dying ipod speakers
filling the Kawartha Cabin our retreat
3 nights, 4 days
On the way here three cars in the ditch.
A woman in a fur coat sitting in an impala smashes through a wire fence
The tow truck scratching its head as to how to retrieve her.
Another car facing the other way as confused as we are
as to how it got that way.
A third, an orange SUV, head first in snow.
If it had cartoon legs, they would be kicking up in the the air.
We pick a few wrong lane ways first.
He shrugged walking up to a small church
recently renovated to house a small family.
Everyone: dogs, humans, cats pile out pointing behind
to the farm with many horses and one pony
an impulse buy we’re told later by Yvonne and Glen
our airBnB landlords for the weekend.
The horses follow our every move as we step outside the car
Our pup pretending to be brave
Their long faces, their hard hooves
A growl full of hot air.
The cabin at the back of the property.
Quiet & hot from the wood stove
Oil lamps soon in need to be lit
Dark coming up on us
Unpacking, rummaging, organizing, dinner, bed – early
That stiff feeling all around
Air real
able to take up space
Reminding our city necks how to inhale
And I wake up cold
It’s country dark in here – like when I was ten.
His survival skills tested as he brings the fire back to full force
The dog finds that warm spot against the back of my knees
I miss being in a room this dark I hear him thinking.
Both country kids, albeit different parts of the world
Toronto residents now where the work is
The cabin’s bottom bunk full
with man, woman, and dog.
TAYLOR MARIE GRAHAM 