My childhood holy cards
of J.C., in royal robes, ascending
into heaven were framed
in the ethereal light after a storm
when clouds break to create colors
like Turquoise Blue, Hot Magenta,
& Atomic Tangerine.

How lucky I’ve been
for my minimal ambition:
living in the country
on a beautiful woman’s farm,
driving the backroads
in a rusty ‘84 Landcruiser,
learning to keep my nuisance down
and growing old in shabby clothes.

In the dark
waiting for Ole Sol
to make another Ascension,
I’m freckled with the shadow
of leaves in moonlight,
and my old belief returns
here, right here where I live,

how afraid I’ve been
of the simple moment
when life leaves
and my thoughts and breath
are absorbed into the orb