Sunset

December 11, 1995

Earth's faraway lamp infuses the clouds

with its own powers -

luminous embroidery

parting and casting raiments

of the day's closed book -

and the dust-ruffle effect of partial blindness

holds sway.

All stillness culminates;

the heron's shadow ceases;

the trees become an intricate black-lace silhouette

that slowly predominates over distance.