Today I was up early enough to learn
that here in the valley,
though the sun still rises in the east,
it pours in from the north,
trees along the western edge
lighting up, starting from the top,
striated rays sifting  between  branches,
the line of light touching the valley floor
before the sun crests the eastern hill

I watched the sunlight kiss the crown
of the oak tree, watched as the distant pines
received their light in turn,
like an anointing,
watched the hill’s shadow recede,
slowly, then suddenly,
as the sun claimed its reign
and brought the day.

©Wendy Mulhern
July 20, 2021