"Hellos and Goodbyes" Inspired by Summerhaven:

Hellos and Goodbyes

I’m more likely to say goodbye

to the sleepy western sun than

to greet the wakening eastern one.

A wakening sun offers well-wishes

for all the unknowns ahead,

slowly lighting the sky

like the unveiling of a grand prize.

Sometimes the gift is bright and obvious,

the sun daring any to deny its light,

but other days require me to

look closely behind clouds

or simply believe the sun still shines

when all I see is rain.

As the sun sinks after a long day,

the colors offer peace –

beauty in celebration

of all the sun has witnessed

or beauty as proof

that the despair of a bad day

isn’t all that exists.

Hope at both dawn and dusk,

neither fog nor rain –

nor any other impediment –

will ever stop the promise of the sun.