Double Rainbow Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

I remember that rainy afternoon
in the wilder depths out there
meaning - the untrod acres left fallow
close enough to the Everglades
but far enough, far enough
for man's wicked ways
to harbor and hide in

Still in the glow of seeing
nature raw in glorious summer beauty
after pounding many pavements
a friend volunteered to drive me
to that large and mysterious wooded place
where trees grew undisturbed
and mosquitoes flew big and healthy
and strangler vines thrived
in perfect dewy strength

My friend could not wait
to get out of there
he had seen it all
he had been part of the dark side

Since he drove
I acquiesced

On the way back
to civilization
still wet from the dew
of that untouched forest plot
I saw it -
a double rainbow

'Look, ' I said with excitement
He glanced
and continued driving

It was much later
I heard
that property had been
a den of thieves
and it burned
to the ground.