encountering reality

in my garage i hung a window frame

and it frames... just wood

  i went for a ski after resting

and at the trailhead were two huge trucks, a trailer,

 and a beast of a load moving machine with tracks.

the trail was trashed 

but there was obviously some reason.

 i tried to stay inbetween

because the horizontal track was very slow.

before i saw the hobbit house

i met a fellow peeing on the track, 

embarrassed him actually.

he quickly moved and apologized, kept trying to talk about it.

and i skied way over to the far left, 

intent on making no conversation.

 the thermometer read 4 degrees.

there was no wind,

pileated woodpeckers called

and there was more tractor-like noise.

 i was dazzled, 

but still the damn noises persisted.

i tried to pay attention to the woods.

 when a pileated woodpecker begins excavating a tree

it leaves distinctive holes

which elongate into furrows

that in this amazing tree

i can peer through.

can you see?

 then

i encountered this one trundling up the path. 

it had tracks that were diagonal

and therefore good to ski over.

convenient amidst inconvenience.

 i have skied and walked and even mountain biked this trail 

for 30 years

and have never seen maintenance guys on it

or equipment other than a stray snow machine

setting cross country trails.

before a more challenging site was developed.

 the guys (three at least)

cut out a dangerous nuisance tree that had come down on the trail 

and chipped it.

 on the way out they were hauling in two small bridges.

this work used to be done

on site, 

with minimal equipment.

 this stream is being bridged

and i mourn for the days

of intervention by human hauled equipment

not equipment hauling humans.

and humans taking a few little risks and

navigating tiny stream banks.

my heart get sad.

 i stopped at the latest flea market in town

saw one of my old students.

met his girlfriend.

and then i found something very amusing

 curiouser and curiouser

are human beings.