The View from Bear Peak
we climb Bear Peak
and take in the beige haze
the magenta slurry line
the brown and black trees
of the NCAR Fire’s modest burn
and the forest-green line
where the grass fire is regrowing
we see a plume of smoke
out toward Lagerman perhaps
and look toward Lyons
to be sure that fire’s out
our puppy swims
in the Cragmoor stock pond
already green in April
and later that afternoon
when he vomits three times
we worry about blue green algae,
which kills dogs within hours
no one we’ve known
has lived this way
not knowing what to expect
from the earth or the sky
this wariness toward the land
and the toxins all around
disorienting, exhausting, disheartening
disconnection mounts
and fear moves in
so much that once was a balm
becomes another source of dis-ease
