snowshoing at moonrise: Ester Dome

snowshoing at dusk
early november powder
seven inches of snow
i jog through the
equinox trail
over the summit
of ester dome into
the fresh darkness
traversing the ridge
down the mining trail
a few lights
of houses and smoke
along goldsteam creek
and further
there is Murphy dome
and moose mountain
over the shoulder
northwest, i survey
the icey sphere, loaping another half mile
beyond the marathon turnaround
warmed by an inner fire
like some mad trapper
or indonesian monk
walking in silk slippers
serene inside of the seasonal monsoon
I rest upon a sprucey plateau
zip my jacket
and adjust my bindings
i turn back
face into the wind
and begin the march
towards where I began
striding into the moonrise
gliding above the snow
half moon and mars glows red across the sky,
I trudge another
mile of ridgeline
looking down upon the glowing city
halfway between
heaven and Fairbanks