As I began to obviate the snow
from my sidewalk,
my father appeared.
He does that sometimes.
I shoveled and then sifted
ice melt onto the porch steps
and driveway even though
the snow still fell.
I heard his voice in my head
as I scanned the snowy horizon…
“Gotta keep on top of things like this.”
Suddenly, the miles that separate us
felt especially long…
and very cold.
A Thousand Miles from Kansas 