Artifact March 2010
Altamont Snow
~ for J. L.
rolling horizon’s mirage
becomes our bodies’ collage
our class astoundingly bright
timeless sun reflecting light
casting memories in snow
a high school class long
exposed to a shimmering
opaque white hill glimmering
thick as frescoed hall walls
hiding infinite skin tones
slopes of rolling linked arms
and curling hips upon hips
our mouths rounding quotes
from perfect poet Och’s lines
every other heart beats
to the nefarious wild wonder
of this paint getting tossed
for what ending or when
we didn’t beleaguer skin color
nor significant social order
see the fine mist that hovers
as peace is discovered
in united intertwining
where our common souls go
and we are again exposed
as corporate flesh and bone
folding on itself but alone
in a landscape emerging
over years of maturing
Charlie’s eyes ever sparkling
under lids stitched at closing
in this spirited landscape
and each fractal a swirling
of our continuing selves
bowing to the rollicking thrill
of this ‘70s hill swelling
in storied lyrical history
tragedy comedy and irony
where Wendy and I lie still
one head bound to the other
by hair woven together
blond and brown under cover
of white blanketing snow
with a slight bit of smoke
until someone puts out
the still smoldering roach.
© Julia Holzer. December, 2009