The Sign of the Beaver

It has been a year

since he passed over

I remember

two months ago I was walking the dog

on the trail by the pond and beaver lodge

like I always do

never saw the creature in all my years

on my loop back I asked David

“If you are ok, show me the beaver”

less than a minute

a slap on the water, followed by

the brown head swimming diagonally in the pond

three days past

on the same trail at the same spot I asked again

to be sure

“Beaver please”

this time a slap followed by 2 heads, 2 beavers

within 10 feet of me

I have never seen them again

I don’t need to

In that moment I knew he was his best self

passing over the veil of this world to the next