Brightest Days, after Frost

It was a day beautiful as Shakespeare,
Beautiful as Frost the day the trees
“Loaded with ice … turn many-colored
As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.”

A day that bright in the woods, and
Different: lightest powdering of white
Snow on thinnest glaze of crinkly ice,
Just enough so puppy Jewel and I slide

A little, watch our steps. Cold enough
To breathe through gloved hands cupped
In front of mouth and nose as I get going.
Bright as Frost’s day of glittering ice,

Down to smallest tinkling twigs,
Rainbow refraction and all! Young
As that day, bright and alive as my
Floppy-eared, black and white Springer

Spaniel, bounding ahead, more jack-rabbit
Than puppy dog: “I love you, Jewel!”
Now she’s bright and black and smooth and
Wet, her muzzle close-up for a kiss – now

She’s bounding away again: “Wait, Jewel!
Look!” Ice-age outcroppings, huge boulders
At all angles, massive, frozen, stone-grey
Forces (Cubists died for!) jutting out

Over nothing; forming ledges, caves;
And on the crest, from lichen, moss,
Thinnest topsoil, white powder snow –
Tall trees somehow dance up toward

Brightest blue “inner dome of heaven.”
Wondrous days for any one –
Revelation!
Bright as Shakespeare, beautiful as Frost!