September 12*

predawn barely
apprehended forms:

          a still sea of air
                    the color of void
          a still hulk of water
                    the color of reflected void
          the darkness of matia and orcas
                    more substantial by only a shade

perfect sphere of moon
a gaudyglitzy neon pumpkin

          suspended in all,
          in the sweet smell
          of pure fall

*Copyright 2010 by Luther Allen. This poem appears in The View from Lummi Island. Photo by Amanda Wald Rachie.