Evening Drifts In
Virginia Salter

evening drifts in as we place miles between us
and the morning side of the mountain
moving toward the dark
we witness the dimming light fade on the hills
south of our eastward bent

around each new bend we reach a new opportunity
for one more final glimpse of our mountain
as it slowly becomes a silhouette on the horizon
blurring evidence of cracked, crevassed snow
looking for a chance to leap away from its captor

along with the fading threat of avalanche
its majesty lessens ever slightly,
but the memory of its grandeur renews the power
of its image to hold us in its grip
for one more moment, one more encounter
with its awesome beauty

finally we must concede our good-bye
to escape our thoughts, our lips
giving promise more to ourselves than anyone
that we shall return to wrap ourselves
within its mystery, its elegance again
some day

© June 25,  2000