AMELIA GORMAN

Ice goes out

voices ebb and flow over the wire,
cloud cover or battery determined

seems like the ice goes out earlier every year
-my father

don't forget to tell her about the pelicans
-my mother

and I've filled the boathouse full of beer
	in case you visit
and the ice goes out earlier every year
and I've started the seedlings
	They go in the ground next month
	I don't think we'll get a May frost, probably some all April
and what's it like down there?
	Cedar Lake still frozen?
and Dead Lake still has some patches
and it seems like the ice goes out earlier every year

aware how much in our ottertail language
this conversation means I love you I miss you

and every ice-out earlier than the last