Manifest Destiny

Finished chores just before lunch, the ongoing work 
	Of clearing leaves from the decks, air cool with autumn,
Rested on the red bench in front, looking down the hill to
	A ridge of dark clouds moving east, from the ocean,

Watched a distant raptor ride the wind, wheeling over trees to the north,
	The vultures are gone, as are osprey, 
A small brown wren lands in the garden nearby, under withering crocosmia,
	Chickadees gather at the suet feeder,

And in the distance, peaks of the coast range disappear
	Behind a veil of rain, then foothills also vanish,
Clouds draped low across the valley, soon the veil
	Washes over hills across the river,

I go inside as drops start to fall, wipe my feet on the mat
	And wash my hands in the sink, a few minutes later
Hail pelts down, wild winds start to blow,
	Taking yet more leaves from maples and oaks,

It’s all cycles and stops, repetitions, patterns of surge and recession, 
         The flow of migration, movement of tides, passing of seasons,
Phases of the moon, the setting sun on its inexorable path, to drop 
         Behind the mountains and into the sea 
                  delivering, at last, darkness.



11/09/2021