Vanilla Dish

Rocky Mountains in the distance
are distinctive with a first dash
of snow, like vanilla-humped camels
even hump-backed Orcas
in a line perpendicular to our view

the undulating road hiding them
at times, then like a wave of
white caps confront our imagination
with scenic beauty, as do
mountain goats, stirring, exultant
in the morning air.

Far below craggy monoliths
the forest sprinkles itself in a mat
of yellowed September leaves

where stiff-necked spruce leap
upwards and a meandering stream
shows brocades of silver
reflections. Within the calm,
a snarl of wolves are on the hunt.

© Richard L. Provencher