The Day's Lengthen

The days lengthen until that moment when 

The sun stands o’er the Tropic of Cancer

Marking the longest day of the year, then

Signaling the day’s decline to winter.

Midway atop the Rocky Mountain range

For the trav’ler heading into the sun

The direction of the rivers' flow change

Flowing to the Pacific now they run.

That day of the year - the summer solstice,

That point atop the range - the great divide,

But gradual change no one notices

Until the chasm is great, deep, and wide.

Ere long we reach midpoint of our journey

And wonder in awe how it came to be.

July 2001