American Sky (Reworked) Poem by Anthony Marriner

Warm and dry Californian sky-
That first Spanish taste in Angeles’ glare
No zephyr to purge Downtown’s shadow.
Freed from the Valley’s crucible
Cocooned in air-con, going East to the West
To see America’s sky.

Mojave brightness caps light ochre soil,
Blue ever present, ruffled by haze
Nevada’s inferno streaked with contrails.
Santa Fe railroad climbs an azure grade
Bisecting Arizona, Route 66 hitches a ride.
Reflecting the sapphire: America’s sky.

One-eighty turn North, to the Colorado’s deep child.
Strata of rust and sage, give way to cerulean vault.
Aeons of creation bringing light to the floor.
Painted Desert, its watercolour horizon
Frames a meteorite’s arc- deep clear backdrop
A sunset volcano ignites America’s sky.

Monumental red cathedrals, in dusty glory
Punching heavenwards, the stagecoach’s goal.
Navajo light is weaving their claim.
Emerald blue Tahoe illuminates the Sierra’s
Cold clear march. Through gold’s wild man
To Manzanar, teardrop in America’s sky.

Yosemite, primeval in majesty carves its space
Pines and firs lance upward, with meadows of
Colour breathing crystal air.
Angels returning to view as green cedes to brown,
Smoke black horizon drapes gauze on the sun.
The fires of renewal streak America’s sky.

(2009)