on top of this mountain
in a cabin that’s showing some signs of wear.
The view is divine, but the height is a little daunting
and the snow, already deep on the slopes,
could begin again any time;
you might as well sit back and enjoy it—
the slice of sky between the peaks
and the bonsai-like trees across the valley.
As evening falls and the snow goes blue
you start to feel a bit melancholy
and wonder if another choice would have been better—
a tropical beach or an emerald isle
or the lovely old cities of Europe.
But wait! You’ve already seen all that
and this spot is really exactly what you wanted—
even the silence is right, and the cold
is a comfort somehow, though you can’t think why.
It might be the cup of tea laced with rum
that’s warming your hands and heart.
In a little while maybe the moon will pull up
and invite you out, and maybe you’ll go.
— Elizabeth Knies