Losing Our Bearings

There are tinges of futile darkness
in the air that bring to mind
a long cold hike we took
years ago, one October afternoon,
to gather wild ginger
west past the elk pasture.

The clouds thickened and it began
to snow, to snow hard enough
that we lost our bearings
and walked almost in circles
as the sun went down
and the winds picked up.

This time,
will our car turn over
when we finally get back
to the start?