poetry

facing Harper Lake

Photo by Chris Hansen of 9 News (KUSA).

facing Harper Lake

today a stranger and I made plans
to face the lake together

we’ve both been round its tame shore
enough times to expect the cottonwood to the south

and the Indian Peaks view to the west
but what we’re not quite prepared for

is what’s left of the homes we saw on TV
sending great jets of ravenous orange flame

into the night, seeming to burn for hours
with a tender couple silhouetted before that wall of fire

we know what a luxury it is
to not have seen it all yet

to not have to deal in the daily minutiae
of Right of Entry forms

and adjusters
(and knowing whether that’s -er or -or)

agents and policies and replacement everythings
rentals and architects and builders and plans –

plans, most of all –
no, we go about our days with the privilege

of not needing to plan much of anything,
able to choose when to face the lake

on our own terms,
a choice that couple never had to make

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