Winter beer-drinking

in the glow

of a cherry-red stovepipe

we pissed

into a hole in the rough wood floor

we ate

pickled deer heart with onions

we swore

allegiance to family, friends, and forest

we spoke

reverently of the beauty of fine rifles

and women

of bows, knives, trees, trout, rocks,

and deer

in the laughter that wedded wonder and profanity

we found

the unspoken truth of kinship deeper than blood

we promised

to help each other die if crippling ever came

we were young