BIKING TO EPHRAIM

Photo by S. Auberle

Two peals of thunder

this afternoon, unexpected.

On the road to Ephraim

the land smells of grass,

coming rain, overturned earth,

cows and lilies-of-the-valley.

An old woman gathers lilacs

beside a stone fence.

There are gulls fussing

in furrowed rows

and in the purple clouds,

one crow--who scolds

as I wheel beneath him.

Rumi says:

this is not a day for asking questions...

this day is a lover, bread and gentleness

more manifest than saying can say...

- mimi