She ran into the room
in a panic worse than mine
because I was screaming
or hollering at least
the way husbands will
when they have lopped off a limb
or the quarterback drops the ball
in the end zone

this time the TV was off
and I had all my limbs
but one of them was in
the most intense cramp
in a place I would not
stretch out for relief
every move made it worse

Two hours shoveling heavy snow
in the driveway costs more
than you’d think
and we’re at the stage of life
where I bundle up to go shoveling
with a certain possibility
of finality to it
my parka may be
a symbolic suit of lights.

As for the cramp
it went away
as for me
I’m exhausted
as for my wife
she wants me
to hire some young buck
so we can watch him shovel
through the window
while we hold hands
it could happen