bruised

 i looked 

as always

to the immense hilltop sky

 and saw a bruising

the word that hurts as you speak it

 but i looked longer,

past the sad colors

 and watched the sunset

take charge and play the clouds

 and even through the sadness

in my heart

 this

 and this

 and as i returned, this.

an old friend from my early days here

who had huge kindness in his heart,

 todd, has passed. 

we will all miss him.