MOON OVER LAPP GAP

THE WILD EFFERVESCENCE OF GREENERY LEFT BEHIND
NOW THE BONY STRUCTURE OF EARTH LIES REVEALED.
SPARSE BEAUTY.

THE AIR SHARPER, CLEARER, COLDER,
SEARING NOSTRILS AND THROAT.
THE EARTH SEEMS YOUNGER.

BIRCHES, STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE
LEAFLESS
TRUNKS PEELED OF BARK, REDDISH, BARE,
GROWING SMALLER AS WE GO NORTH
ALWAYS FURTHER NORTH
INTO A WORLD OF SNOW.

TURQUOISE WATERS SHIMMERING
BENEATH ICE-COVERED LAKES
THE SKY TURNING
FROM BRIGHT BLUE TO PALE GOLD
GREEN, PINK, ORANGE

THE SUN, UP ALL NIGHT
BLOOD RED NEAR THE HORIZON
THE MOON, HANGING HIGH
OVER LAPP GAP

EVERYTHING STILL
THE ANCIENT EARTH
THE EARLY TIMES OF MAN
SO CLOSELY FELT

THE DAYS OF WANDERING
FOLLOWING HERDS
SEEKING PASTURES

LICHEN, GREY, GREEN AND RUST
ON GREY, GREEN, BLACK ROCK

IN SAPMÍ, IN SWEDEN.

Poem and photo by Elly Sherman
© 1989