I watched the sun set tonight.
I watched

The color palate of the scene
ignite from blues and greens
to gold.

The shadows stretched across the earth
     as if dancing
          in heaven’s hearth.
The way the flare
     flickered through
          the cracks between the leaves…
It glittered and it glared
     atop
          the air’s serenity.
and I could only marvel at how
the sun wraps the world in warmth
and touches all with its glow
     yet spares all from its flame.

I watched
and wondered, when I die,
     How will my sun set?
How many people and places and things
     will I have enveloped with my warmth?
How far and how deep from the horizon
     will my light have flooded and flowed?
How many shadows will have waltzed,
     inspired by my glow?

I watched
and wished to make my life –
until my time to set –
     a dance, a flame, a light that shines
and turns all things
to gold.