4:48 p.m.  A bank of billowing clouds gaze upon their blushing reflections in the cold bay below. Their bulbous figures glide silently past Mount Tam, the sleeping Miwok princess, while a tempered salty breeze drifts eastward, caressing the upper branches of a time-honored eucalyptus, releasing its fresh, tangy scent. The tree stands tall, alone, spreading its massive branches wide – a sentry guarding the western gate, the final resting place for an ancient chief’s young daughter.

It’s only a few more seconds until the top half of the blazing sun completely sinks behind the curve at the small of Tam’s back – more than enough time for the downy mist to gather at the water’s edge and glide up and over the entire length of the maiden’s reclined shape – a shape that had once been a body more alive than a rushing waterfall – a body that had been prematurely laid to rest and transformed into a sacred mountain, so long ago that no one knows the time.

Yellow. Gold. Orange. Sky redefines itself while Tam’s silken, grey shroud thickens above the deep purple outline of her supine form. The dense mist promises to keep her bones from freezing once her lover’s luminous halo has gently slipped below the horizon. Today, he leaves her with the faint pink afterglow of his love. Tam responds with a softening silhouette.

Only for a moment though.

Only until the stars twinkle their delight.

********

This week’s writing challenge is to write a ‘snapshot’ instead of taking one. How timely! If you only knew how many i-photos I take in a day. This from a person who, up until a year ago, said she only needed a cell phone for emergencies.
HA!
But not today – no pictures allowed.
I’ll have to show you the stunning sunsets  centered around
Mount Tamalpais
some other time.
Have a wonderful week!