specialness poem #1

 sometimes there comes a perfect day:
a shallow river near our vermont lake
meanders unconcernedly among rocks
earth drops sends the stream plunging
a spectacular waterfall the flow spreads
in a great foaming fan all other sound
blocked the land below is now a cliffed
gorge my grandsons leap and leap from
incredible heights into the deep pool the
stream’s become my daughter climbs
down the rocks swims in the pool up to,
then behind the waterfall – a ledge lets her
her vanish into the raging white – I marvel
from atop the cliffs finish picnic crumbs:  
wait, there’s more – we go a few miles on  
to mount philo a pimple compared to  
the green mountains behind but high enough  
to view lake champlain and the adirondacks
beyond the grandsons fry brats mushrooms
set up a telescope on loan from the library  
dusk deepens to night a billion stars light the  
sky the brightest is jupiter a gold ball we spy
four of its many moons grandsons spread  
sleeping bags stay atop the mount we drive  
home still adazzle to fall asleep listening to  
lapping waves owl hoots loons eerie callings

2019 Jacqueline Jackson