I Saw the Sun Rise Twice

I saw the sun rise twice in the same day and set once.

The first was the planet revolving. The second, the plane

Moving out of the night of the Arctic Circle.

I saw green on the horizon for the first time: crimson red

of sunfire, ruby pink of spreading light,

yellow of warmth, and emerald on sapphire blue.

As the sun rose, or rather, as the plane flew,

I saw the steam of turbines glow fire-bright, streamers

Of colored cloud.

Below, Siberia streamed by. Oxbow lakes of ice and sink,

frozen and refrozen. I saw evidence of glaciers—

the expression and character of a lava flow, but ice.

I saw the sun, golden and perfect, no halo of atmosphere, touch

The port wing and glance off.

Brilliant.