Before the peaks
The hills
Before the hills
The valley
Before the valley
I must leave
This place of numbing
Before I die
Then in between
The verdigris
And igneous
Within them all
Find I
Though the paths I see
Attain neither peak nor pass
Trapped in this valley of lassitude
Now what is near
Seems quite clear
But far from here
Is more obscure
Detail lost
Colour sallowed
Though sun breaks through
Its presence mellowed
Yet, still
Rise
Though I see
Not so very far ahead
I take the road
Into the valley maze
And trust myself
To find the way
And the colours
Oh the colours
Ever vibrant
Even this brown earth
They painted
With expansiveness
Let the grandiose
Dominate the brush
Then I
So happy
For just a hint of them
Through the glass
Held in my hand
Let nature speak
This perfect is mine
Not the valley’s
Not the light’s
Not the clouds’
I remind myself
True happiness
Is found in finding
The perfect in everything
Refreshed by the cool breeze
Chilling the fire
Of the hot sun
Atop the curvilinear delights
Of hillocks dappled
With grasses and pines
Where even infinity seems so close
I could touch it
Right there
As the curve of the Earth
Rounds the line
Where ocean meets the sky
So am I reminded
A threat may seem remote
Or weak in its intention
But a threat it is
Toxic in its notion
I do well to heed an atmosphere in tension
