snow tracks

i took the dogs out while you were still asleep

as i typically do.

it had snowed the night before

when you joined me.

in the morning light

i saw our footprints, side by side

frozen in time.

yours at a faster cadence

and not quite as big, although someday soon

your footprint will dwarf mine

and not long after that

there will be only one set in the snow

off to better things, exploring the world

finding love, finding pain, finding hope, finding betrayal.

although the footprints don't quite show

the frustrations about your sister’s behavior

the constant reminders to clean up your rooms

flush the toilet, do your homework, get off your ipads.

no, the tracks are simply a reminder

of the most important fact, the only one that really matters.

that we were there together.