ENCHANTED EVENING

 

A winding though well paved road
to Powderhorn and Mesa Mountain,
midway an old town of same name
a rendezvous for meeting my friend
driving over the top of the mountain.

 

She followed me out of town as vistas
of farms and ranches found all around,
we turned onto an old worn gravel road
alongside cattle fence and rolling gate
a rustic ranch house, well worn frame.

 

Inside three charming ladies all busy
hustling, bustling, preparing cookery
settings neat, a wood rectangular table
long wooden slatted bench left and right
wooden hutches, credenzas a century old.

 

Polite introductions quickly turned
to friendly chatter, some surprises,
the hostess, my guest spoke French
artists, poets, people locally known
a small world, friendship now grown.

 

With background music of a Friday Service,
Dinner prepared, candles over prayer lit
Prayers over wine and challah complete,
Our ample, savory festive meal served
Black bean soup, fish, squash, corn, salad
Our hostess, guests truly outdid themselves.

 

Dinner over, table cleaned, dishes washed
we went outside into the darkness to catch
glimpses of the Harvest Moon twixt drifting
clouds until they passed then beauty adoring,
silently holding hands --- Nature and God were at One.

Herbert Holzbauer
© November 2007

 

Midi: "Create In Me A Clean Hart"
(Based On Psalm 51)
Composer: Gilberto Barreto
Sequencer: Denis Popopkin
(songsofpraise.org)

 

Photo: "Shabbat Dinner"
(Courtesy: Chabad Jewish Center - University of Chicago)
(www.chabaduchicago.com)