Almost Cloudless

a lone aircraft growls as it traverses the sky

that seemingly goes on forever,

magnolias gently sway...

water moves out both sides and returns

for all its inhabitants,

cardboard and towels block the sun

from reaching a sole survivor

whose task it is merely to observe;

swiftly navigating birds reach new destinations

as their lives progress just as quickly to an end,

a blue, almost cloudless sky supervises

the passing of the day as if were only one

of millions that it has seen...

fresh cut grass lays streaked in mounds

sweating it out before it dries

lessening our surrounding beauty;

off in the distance American flags fly

as best as they can without wind,

having been tied to unseen poles on a porch;

liberty is viewed not so harshly anymore

as it had been in this eastern valley

that was once home to someone else;

many a year has past since his first arrival

putting him in touch with a life that

up till then he had only read about.

2 August 2020