telling time

Within one of our winters,
we trekked through-
the woods
Stiff, strong boots crunching
where we mumbled woven words
glimpses of moss-covered trees
we dug our heels deep in limestone

Days earlier, you had gifted
me a wristwatch
Brown leather and gold
That had matched
the ring on my finger

Subtle professionalism
you had said
as you tightly clasped
the tongue of the buckle
through the strap
on the very last hole
always- with my thin joints

I lost it this winter
though a metal detector downtown
probably tossed amongst a dozen
other types of metal

Rather, I imagine it buried
deep in some snowbank somewhere
the hands suspended, dangling
frozen- during some other time