Back in the 
valley having only 
yesterday been atop
the mountain I
sit here and 
wonder which came 
first this or
that for surely 
this is what 
was left over 
after that rose
much like flowering
bushes once the 
blooms are gone 

The day here
always starts with 
a series of still
photographs click click
click as the sun
crawls up the 
mountain of sky 
turning back and 
smiling broader than 
the one before 
as if this 
day is the 
first day that 
it’s done this 
such silly joy
every day brings 
in the mountains 

And one building 
the tallest of 
the bunch from
one window the
low east sun 
reflects orange like
one teardrop diamond 
hanging on the 
lobe of an 
older woman staring 
into her vanity 
mirror wondering where
her vanity went 
and hoping vainly 
that some gentleman 
might find it 

Sometimes sometimes I 
guess things change 
rivers seasons and 
such people too
love also and 
lovers too change
for unlike rivers 
and seasons they 
choose to change 
the very thing 
that they chose
to change once 

The us
we are
is better 
now than
ever before 
growth has 
given way 
like two 
separate teeming 
ponds our 
lives have 
consumed the 
land between 
making us 
one lake 
one very
large lake