Tahosa Valley Vigil

Clouds rose up-slope this morning.
In speed-driven pellets and ghostly mist
the great peaks were quickly lost.
The ground was six inches under
by noon and a burden laid poised
on each jade clump of needles.

Now midnight in sudden shifting clouds
darker and larger than the mountains
crack and scatter and escape back down
the basin, shrieking in succession.

In wine-dark wide-openings burn
steadfast stars and one sapphire planet.
The mediatrix moon turns three-quarter
face toward this frozen valley-wave,
seducing a snowbound ponderosa sea
with one luring kiss of cool blue flame.

Tahosa Valley, Colorado
1973