After Reading
She sits inher high backed chair gazing out at the sunset,
in her lap a book,
in her resting hand
a magnifier. Her face and hair glow,
suffused with the salmon light
of the fading sun. A smile
stirs on her still face
like a slight breeze touching a petal.
She is watching light
wash through the rows of cloud
with its smooth fervor. Some,
caught in her eyes, mingles
with a private fire, becomes one flame,
one phoenix candle, this one not setting,
not consumed.