July 5*

sun down
in the darkness of firs
in the quiet of their wracked deadfall limbs
          the mangled power, holding

the now dim dual blossoms of twinflower
a few early and tart thimbleberries wiped into mouth
birds settle their chatter into night nests

and the air, wakening
          exactly
                    smells the taste of
                    cold pure spring water
          trickling clarity
into all, fresh

*Copyright 2010 by Luther Allen. This poem appears in The View from Lummi Island.
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photo © J.C. Hasstedt