November’s Longing

Across the field, a stand of birches shimmers

in rivers winnowing Autumn light. Here, rising 
like a layered ladder through icy air, hundreds 
of wooden steps and the back of a willowy woman 
receding, blonde hair loose over parka’s collar, 
unreachable and aloof as she shivers, clambering 
towards sand dune’s crest, and he follows. Then, 
Russia and the Baltic Sea far below so close—
silent, silver, ancient songs fading dreamlike 
into memory of the distant west.