Out Tonight

12/20/24

Out tonight, after all is done,
	Mist rises across the valley in
		waves and swirls, veils the
	Lights out along twenty-two, running
			Out through the mountains
		To the coast, westward, sky darkens 
With the promise of cold rain tomorrow, 
	Maybe for days, as winter begins,
I look westward, but don’t see a future, let’s
		Just say I’m not making any
			Long-range plans beyond, say,
	January 20,

This is who they voted for,
	This is what they want.

01/01/2025

Out tonight, the holidays done,
	Drizzle falls through fog that shrouds
		The valley, obscures all lights	
	Beyond the fortress of fir and cedar
			Surrounding this silent house,
We retreat to our routine, but
	Nothing is the same, the overpowering sense
		Of departure, being cast off into whatever
			Nonsensical future lay in store,

This is who they voted for,
	This is what they want,

01/06/2025

Out tonight, the first clear sky in weeks,
	First-quarter moon settling into
		The boughs of deodar cedar and fir,
	Dazzling lights across the valley
		To the foothills, to the silhouettes
			Of mountains against starry horizon,

And it becomes clear tonight, that 
	We move forward to an abyss.
		No miracle occurred today
	To save us, from all the maelstrom ahead,
		That our children and theirs must overcome.
			History is relentless.

He’s going to blow it up.
This is what they want.
This is what they voted for.