even as the cities burn, beauty
on the little peak
in the warm late afternoon light
aspen leaves fired green
hermit thrushes burbling
clouds silhouetting the Divide
my heart empty
and body whole
in a welcoming place
I couldn’t stop saying aloud
it’s all so beautiful
Owen took these photos.
Jalak Bali
until I saw it
against sky
I thought its whiteness a liability
its blue face gaudy
but up in the canopy
it dissolves into air
insubstantial as cloud
as embedded in the
broad blue canvas
as leafbird is to tree
disappearing like
siang supplants pagi
and sore whisks away siang
you never know
who beauty might save
