I wrote this one about a year ago, perhaps two.  There is a moment in the morning when the sun suddenly hits the River with a flash of pure gold.

Susquehanna Alchemy

 

Fragments of mist

roll down the ridge above the River,

peeling the veil

from Pisgah’s grey shoulders.

 

Pockets of fog

cloak the farms

in the folds of the valley.

 

Susquehanna meanders,

a twisting ribbon of lead

in the dawn.

 

Above, a blue heron

plies a patient path

through cold currents

on its way to fishing.

 

Wren, sparrow and finch

send threads of brilliance

into the bowl of sky:

“Here. Here. Here. I am here.”

Their voices spiral upward.

 

A chilly breeze disturbs

the fleecy tail of a squirrel

who has paused

halfway

down a grey-brown

trunk of oak.

 

The wintry skeletons of maples

wear the green auras of early spring.

Sun touches the branches,

tempers them with silver

in the first light.

 

One day you will remember to look

and the fresh nests of birds

will be hidden

amid a riot of green.

 

You turn off the spine of the mountain.

You slide from the ridge of Mt. Pisgah,

winding your way along a streamlet

which hastens toward the river’s embrace.

 

A stone schoolhouse with boarded windows

sits amid a scholarship

of dried ivy vines

and last fall’s nettle stalks.

 

Among the wrinkled hollows and hills

you curve away from the river and back again.

Now you turn onto the river road.

 

Birdsong has lost the insistent shrill of dawn.

The last mist of morning

dissipates before you.

The sun slides a glance

off the surface of grey water,

and sparkles of gold appear.

 

Gold grows on the water,

transforming lead,

and in a moment

you will avert your eyes

from its blinding dazzle.

 

Gratitude List:
1.  Spring Tonic–the boys and I went wandering this morning, found several leaves of plantain, chickweed, nettles, henbit and ground ivy, stick-stalks of mint, sage and thyme.  We made a tea-tonic out of it all.
2.  Collaborative artwork with my children.  This photo is one Josiah and I made this morning.  It’s a cardinal family in a nest.  The red blobs above the nest are daytime fireworks, according to one of the artists:

3.  Flaky biscuits and hot soup
4.  Being understood
5.  A new poet to learn: Ada Limon
May we walk in beauty.  So, so much beauty.