I meet a woman
who used to live here
thirty years ago
she is visiting for the first time
she says “it looks the same”
“what looks the same?” I ask
she replies
“the roads are wider
and the stores are built up
and there are more people
pretty much everywhere
and nobody smiles anymore
when you pass by them”
“that doesn’t seem the same”
I say
“well the mountains are the same”
she says
and the freshness of the air”
“but the air is smoky
and the mountains are bare”
I say
“hmm”
she says
“well I guess it is all different”
and we part ways
and later I walk under the sunset
and wonder if anything is
what it used to be
and the sky is many colors
and the clouds are aflame
as they collide with the peaks

Alexander Shalom Joseph is an award-winning poet, writer and playwright from Gilpin County, and is the author of seven published books. You can find his work and more information about him at alexandershalomjoseph.com.