be careful

i must be careful about such things as these. the thin-grained oak.    the quiet grizzlies scared into the hills by the constant tracks squeezing in behind them closer in the snow.    the snared rigidity of the winter lake.    deer after deer crossing on the spines of fish who look up and stare with their eyes pressed to the ice.   in a sleep.  hearing the thin taps leading away to collapse like the bear in the high quiet.   i must be careful not to shake anything in too wild an elation.    not to jar the fragile mountains against the paper far- ness.   nor avalanche the fog or the eagle from the air. of the gentle wilderness i must set the precarious words.   like rocks.   without one snowcapped mistake.