Aurora

On a lonely highway

In the dark of the small hours of morning,

Wearily, we pushed on.

*

We had overstayed.

The shortcut had been riddled with detours.

Home was miles away, and work came early.

*

I thought I'd imagined it.

In the northern sky, a bright, yellow lance shot skyward

And faded into nothingness.

*

A second beam came,

Then a third, and another, from below the flat horizon,

A scintillating, amber wave, repeating.

*

Time and space had aligned,

There, at the intersection of nowhere and the void,

To provide a private showing.

*

Sleep would wait.

Beside the road, we gazed, your head on my shoulder,

Until the dance was over.

*

It lives in my memory, still,

Not just a relic of a love that ran dry,

But a timeless gift from the Universe.

***

This was the most unique view of the Northen Lights I've ever had, while driving home at 3AM on Wyoming Highway 20/26, from a camping and fishing trip with my (now) ex-wife. It was as if parallel searchlights were being switched on and off below the horizon. I've seen amazing displays in other places, but this one was surreal.

This is my first entry for the Vocal Summer Challenge below: