ranging left and right
there and here
backyard and front
she whoops and hollers
eyes bright
and curls bright in the sun
she runs like a native of the earth
potting soil liberally smeared
head to toe

and here I am
home from work
entering another work
a greater work
and everyday I am home
dropping my bags
shoes off
coat hung
in from the wilderness

then like a pilgrim
tired from fasting
at the threshold of the shrine
I am quietly overcome
with the unalloyed joy
of her running around