House Rock Valley Sunset
the last rays of sun fire the sky
and one son announces
he has a headache
and a runny nose
I help casually
without saying what I’m thinking:
is this our last pre-Covid-life sunset
and, if so,
will it take someone we love down
or
is this our last pre-Covid-life sunset
and, if so,
will it wash over us in an easy wave –
a bit of headache here
a scratchy throat there
will it leave us shaking our heads
at our years of precautions
friendships lost for nothing
so much restraint for so little cause
or at our reckless last week
unmasked with the masses
at the Grand Canyon
ears filled with other languages
noses filled with who knows what
but maybe
it’s just our last Arizona sunset til next year
unremarkable except for its normalcy
unworthy of this account
