July 4th at Arapahoe Basin

Massifs of the divide cut into delicate
Sky with their gnomic, craggy brown.
Settled deep into Colorado's legend.
I look out from this million year old crown.

The wizened dignity of ice patch streaks
Ignore the upstart clouds of matching white.
Settled deep into Colorado's legend.
What mythic zero summer at this height!

The titan expanse below is tempered
By tall thickets of scrabbling, hard won green.
Settled deep into Colorado's legend.
What is the magic engine of this scene?

The hardy terrain is symbolized by scree
Baring its loose tooth shards of angled grey.
Settled deep into Colorado's legend.
What mountain gris-gris ghosted me away?

The noon angle of high infinity
Dons a body of hot flame, unfiltered blue.
Settled deep into Colorado's legend.
Set in the god-aged fastness of this view.

© Uche Ogbuji 2011
[Previously unpublished]