Abraham Sutzkever

1913 - 2010 / Smorgon, Russian Empire

Dawn

Signs of paws — an animal has sown
Like blue roses in the white snow's gleam,
When the sun, new risen and unknown,
Like a baby, casts its piercing scream —
Barely gilded on their rims. Below,
Darkness still. The roots of forest's trees
Gnash their teeth in deep ravines of snow.
Harnessed to a sled, a dog will wheeze
Living steam. The steam climbs straight and high,
Meets a chimney smoke, just slightly bent,
And a human breath that's drawing nigh —
Hovering in air at dawn, a tent.
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