I am nine
Rising early
On a Sunday
To explore the
Night’s snowfall
For prints of what
Ever has crossed my
Yard before dawn dogs
Cats birds and a human
Footprint paired with a flat
Slipper print which I carefully
Balance in newspaper stuffed
Galoshes from the hall closet too
Big for me to easily walk but I am
Fascinated to see the reaction
So I carry the galoshes trying
To step stocking footed in
The footprints bare and
Slipper prints out to
The tree branch
On which I sit
Put on huge
Galoshes
And walk
Back to
The
Back door
Alongside the
Other set of prints
Then sneak up to bed
Having put the galoshes
Back in the closet and hidden
My wet socks so my sisters
Will wonder who came in
To our house leaving
Prints though I do
Wonder who did
The barefoot
And slipper
Prints as
We all
Kept
Pretty
Quiet about
Such antics as
Silence gave some
Plausible deniability.