Time of evening had come
when our fireside banter turned
to the search for glowing faces
among the fallen heap of embers
and fire etched edges of logs
flickering in layered decay.
 
The novice among us had
never seen them before while
attributing tales of their presence
to wild imaginations perhaps
heightened by the intoxication
prompted by the cool mountain airs.
 
The experienced companion began
with his detailed explanation,
pointing out some hellish visage
while I searched elsewhere,
unaware of the description related
to the novice who smiled and wondered
if he was being taken for a ride.
 
Upon returning to the spot of their
shared attention, I quickly pointed
there in the lower eaves, a profile
whose parted red hair and rough beard
had all resemblance to a natural color but
whose dark thickened eyebrows had yet
escaped the artist’s scouring touch.
 
"Yes, I see it," said the novice,
the eyes now beginning to blaze,
"it is the same as he had described,"
and we laughed heartily at the coincidence
as distant cries of coyote taunted their prey
while we poked around for our own before
disappearing into the ashes of dreams.
 

09/16/2003

Posted on 09/29/2003
Copyright © 2024 David R Spellman