A contrail scratches a long pink scar across the dawning sky,
Alarming the wispy clouds that stretch themselves into nothingness,
Oozing rose madder from their bottom edges.
The faint sulphur yellow glow behind the ragged horizon
Lurks with the Son’s intent to loom at almost any moment.
The air is clear, and distant fires have not smudged it gray.
It is too early for the birds to be abroad,
But there are little bunnies on the roadway,
Welcoming an autumn morning, unbothered by my passing.
They look warm in their fur coats and little padded feet.
There is no wind, surprising in this desert place of river breezes
But my hands are tucked up in the sleeves of my sweat suit
Against the chill that paints pink roses on my cheeks
As I take my morning walk in Laughlin,
Enjoying my ownership of the quiet air.
My walk is timed to get me home before the sun
Can crash it’s way into the sky
To scare away the bunnies while it wakes up the birds
And forces me to shield my eyes
Against the glare of another busy morning.
ljm
I do two brisk miles a day in the neighborhood at 6 AM. Trying to get healthy and lose weight. It's all so different from L.A., and I'm learning to see the beauty here. You don't get any bunnies in Burbank!
Reading a book, I found a list of funny old laws on the books that were never removed. My favorite was from Pasadena, CA, where it was against the law to "lurk with intent to loom". In other words, you couldn't hide with the intention of jumping out at someone.