charcoal clouds
swirling overhead
in evil patterns
which with every flash of lightening
illuminate in signals of warning
to the creatures of earth
and cast shadows
forming messages
in the language of the gods
I have to remind myself
that it’s not just my imagination
I have to keep reminding myself
that it’s not a hallucination
a hazy half moon
and a handful of tiny stars
still cling to life
in the blue side of the sky
as an oversize orange sun
vaults from behind the distant hills
and pink and yellow streaks of dawn
sweep the shadows from the valley
I have to remind myself
that it’s not just my imagination
I have to keep reminding myself
that it’s not a hallucination
blacktop ribbon
stretches from below
into infinity ahead
against the grain
of the freshly plowed black earth
carving an arrow straight path
through a million tiny mountain ranges
and down it dance wiggly heat squiggles
arm and arm
toward the steamy blur on the horizon
I have to remind myself
that it’s not just my imagination
I have to keep reminding myself
that it’s not a hallucination
june 16 ‘87
© 1987
