At break of day, the sun
slices through purple
darkness of night
illuminating sincere faces
of mountain’s cliffs.
Rainbows shimmer
like mother of pearl
through mist hanging on
sugar pine branches.
Air is cold
and inviting,
embracing your lungs.
A crack and a rustling of leaves
mean the world is waking.

And we stand in the midst of it,
feeling like strangers
because everything feels
alive and beautiful.