The Merciful Glimpse

densely thickening

slate mist fills the hollow breeze

thins for a moment

then bulks like spent wet ashes

in horizonless cocoon 


snow tamps under foot

even greyer than this air

mist twists silently

swirling hem of dancing cloak

mountain dervish diversion


mist steams from gullies

settles its weight in each col

uneases walking

until the Merciful Glimpse

distant map of valley floor



Ted Eames, 2018