One Pleasant Night in Gold Country

by James A. Gardner

for the LCDR


.

.
.
 Headed cross the saucer
      of Califirn-yas
    central valley
  we mortal two
  who cower between
.
   the pillars, routine
.
         good knees    blood
         quaking    flow
         aspen      sap
         brother-lovers
.
         in chariot of steel
         & seek to find
.
      the man-made aquaduct
         whereby we cross
.
       for this singular venture
       (avocado, lettuce, tomato,
            strawberry
           roadpost sign
           hulled husks and heat)
.
    our motion general
          toward the high Sierras
      where we'll lodge
      for one pleasant night
.
       at the Sonoran gold-site
         foothill slanted
      on blanket we lie
      chest-by-chest
.
     lips-praying to one summer's sky
     strain of city eyes &
.
.
          behold for five minutes
             true
          meteor's bright
          flash flash
          I count, I count again
          the second you do too, Sir, these
.
             crystal
                ethereal
             mists on fire
.
.
           such  (you believe)
           brilliance (we)
.
.
4 July 1997


©1997, by James A. Gardner

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