Morning Moon and Venus

Moon and Venus, together

the beginning of the hour before dawn

the barest glimmer of light edges the rim of the Cascades to the east

driving across Millville plains, the trees silhouetted black against that glimmer

the thinnest sliver of silver moon rises

Venus glows from above, lighting the way across the brightening sky

the moon, crossed by wisps of cloud, gray then dark mauve, then hints of pink

the whole of the disc visible, just edged in its smile

ever rising in my drive to the east

rushing toward the sunrise moonrise

I lose the moon in the foothills

but Venus still guides

then, a last glimpse of the old moon's thin whisker before the pines crowd in

Written on 9/17/09