Leaving

Gas at Colfax
sudden water
around curves,
red ball sun
riding down
on mountain rims,
touch up through trees to
patch the sides of hill.
So much tall
and space for eyes without
bumping into buildings.

Dusk at Donner,
Truckee
and side road to find sleep
with creek and stars,
trees
and so much cold
that, meeting heat between the hills,
made bright fog drifts,
morning going into Reno.

Hot in Reno.
Cross walks with people,
Motels, rows of Restaurants,
and everywhere signboards.

Desert
to hard mountains of desert
leaning into night.
Truck lights
Moon
sudden up in eyes of
not sleeping
all five of us in the car,
in sand,
nearly out of gas,
back seat moan

“Shit City.

Day
and colored cuts of mountains.
Green lake,
snow pass
winding down to
pine birch woods,
dust and flies,
and night fire
for whiskey coffee. quiet, Quick woodpecker morning