you say you already knew as you walked
to the window it's the blackbird eyeing us there
as deeply as you lying in my arms it held

itself tightly to itself in flight and now it's sitting
silently where in the dark fork yet another
trace of something white remains that must surely

just have come overnight and drifts down like dust
when it lifts from the branch you say in your sleep
you've smelled the first snow although

we have not yet spoken of what separates us
will the rowan berries not yet soon be frozen
I've just seen their glow in the filigree of branches

translated by Catherine Hales