“Some Words for the Week”

After a day of digging

and sweating and soaking

in the afternoon rain

and breathing in pollen

and concrete dust

I get my weekly pay

pick up beer for the night

eggs for the next morning

and I make my way home

beside the white rapid river

and the color of pines

the definition of forest green

in the fading light

I open the front door

unlace my boots

open the bathroom window

and start the bath water

then sink into the heat

through the window

as the sunset spills orange

I hear birds in the trees

and think on the wonder

of this planet in which

naturally there is singing

so sweet and unique

free to hear almost anywhere

what a miracle it is to hear birds

to witness a language of song

what a miracle this place is

Alexander Shalom Joseph is a writer from Gilpin County. He has two published books and one more forthcoming in the Fall of 2022. For more information and to subscribe to Alexander’s Newsletter go to alexandershalomjoseph.com