slip-sliding away…..

It’s 6 degrees
and my car just died.
On the busy road
right outside the government office
where I hoped to be
first in line this morning.

I would have been.
(Or close to it.)
But God had other plans.

And now here I am,
waiting for help,
on the side of the road,
using my warning triangle for the first time.
(I eventually figured out how to make it stand.)

Just minutes earlier,
I marveled
at the soft glow
of morning light
hitting the mountain ahead.

The full moon –
suspended over the towering rocks –
fading slowly
as her daytime counterpart rose to prominence
over the snow-capped mountains
directly opposite.

I snatched glances at her
during the stop-start thrum
of early morning traffic,
noting the paradox of
humans in a hurry,
whilst nature –
as always –
remained gloriously still;
a beautiful encasement of serenity,
holding within it
the hive of humanity so rushed…
Too distracted to notice
this magnificent birth
unfolding before their very eyes.

9 a.m. arrives,
and traffic is lighter now.

I’ve been here an hour.
And though I hold concern
for my safety,
and the fate of the car,
and the government bureaucracy that awaits inside,
I’m at peace,
recognising wonderful moments gifted
to:
pause,
observe,
absorb,
and release
this
poetry on the side of the road.