I met a man today
(it was snowing outside)
in the college of science
between classes

he was staring
out the window
to the south-west
smiling peacefully
at the terminally grey skies
of Rochester

I, being curious, inquired of him,
"What are you looking at?"

"The sunset," said he.
"It's beautiful."

I glanced
seeing only snow and clouds and trees
and a perfect non-
gradience of achromatic illumination

and I said,
"Yes, it is beautiful."

09/23/2001

Posted on 09/23/2001
Copyright © 2025 Gary Hoffmann