Sepia Afternoon

At dusk

Dusty white cedars

As beautiful as last year’s grasses through snow

Old goldenrod wearing their winter caps bow before

Ditches as caskets for frozen bullrushes

In death retain their beauty

Cracks in the asphalt jump up against cold hard tires

The sander has left its own arcs on the road

We’ve kicked them up and roll on through this

Dark grey path between black gone white gone brown

Like the snowy tracks of last year’s swather

Through the stubble of hay in the fields beside us

Snow flakes darting about

End up like flies on the windshield a few months back

An afternoon drive in black and white

Where you don’t slow down before looking in the rear view mirror

For the big grill coming up behind you

Bare tree branches inked

Against the muffled glow of the setting sun

Clouds settle in and over us

An old granny throws a snowy blanket across the earth

God’s granny

Getting ready to tuck us in for the night