Christmas in Cambridge, NY

Photo by Gwendolyn Vartdal

Louisiana dog and her snow-sweater, her stretch-marked heart, far
removed from the days of filling belly with grass to stave the hunger,
might understand why we leave food for the birds in the dead of winter.
Well-traveled creature, from swamp to mountain, finds the snow
endearing, as her footsteps echo along the driveway in bounds.

I paint pinecone with peanut butter, lace twine into apple slice, decorate
this tree to celebrate joy within the snow’s blinding white. We leave our
offering in the backyard, but we do not return to warmth. Instead, this
southern dog teaches a southern girl how to navigate winter; follow all
the tracks in the snow, and keep your eyes peeled for deer.