At Yellowstone National Park
          Beginning with a line by Gerard Manley Hopkins
by Wilda Morris

Sometimes a lantern moves along the night—
a younger couple shuffles down the trail
we wandered on when we were young. The pale
moon, Cupid-like, shoots arrows of delight
and suddenly a gentle touch ignites
something in her. He reads her cheek like braille.
They hug and feel they’re in a fairytale,
don’t notice that the wind blew out the light.
Oak leaves whisper in the dusk. It starts to rain.
She laughs and brushes droplets from his hair.
They stop to watch the flight path of a crane,
slip on rocks, then walk with special care.
Then in my mind, I see us once again,
and for young lovers all, whisper a prayer.

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