accepting the ugly

with unspoken malice

i slept unwell

in a tent too near

a Montana freeway

swamp water

in the near ditch stagnant still

as the campfire faded

i might have lit a cigarette

if it were a scene

from a western film

Veil of darkness

so apropos for the circumstance

what painter arranged such a sky?

who for a brief gap halted traffic’s flow

while I and my fortunate eyes

witnessed swamp grass transformed to deep gold

freeway slip into shadows

village of conifers rise in dark silhouette attention

full moon ascend like a promise from the ether

a calming elixir for my mind🪶