cold wind from the north

cold wind from the north

blowing away dead leaves, gray 

clouds, brittle branches --

in the lacuna between 

clouds and earth, a golden glow

New Year's Day, 2012, temperatures hover around freezing, but a strong northwest wind makes it feel twice as cold. The arctic wind roars all day, sweeping away the old, opening space for the new. Last year's dead leaves leap across the road. Brittle branches cartwheel to the ground. A flock of gray-belly clouds scurry south. As the first day of the new year blows away, the sun hurries to its western bed. Then into the lacuna between clouds and Earth, a golden glow arcs over a golden dome, suffusing the sky, the day, the coming year.