Gift

I went to put the sun to bed tonight
I walked down to the edge of the Earth
to tuck her into her watery cradle
though I went to serve her she gave me a gift

The gift of every shape that exists
and some that don't
of the richest hues eyes can comprehend
and some they can't

words dance through my mind
like the colors reflected in the waves
like the pigtailed girl who runs and squeals
at the seafoam lapping at her tiny toes

A lilac litany of lavender limericks
the color that fresh blackberries leave on your fingers
crimson knots outlined by a child
with a vivid tangerine crayola

gemstones appear in every cloud
too precious to be caged around someone's neck
the distant city scintillates like a thousand flames
the hills roll like the curves of a Chilean mother

a rainbow hoodied traveler joins me in silence
he too has come to kiss the sun goodnight
she drifts lower into her indigo velvet home
the horizon fades from a line to a monochromatic abyss

the sea and the sky become one rich mystery
taunting those here on the edge of the Earth to venture out
to find the sun, sleeping soundly
amid her folds and ruffles and cushions of night

but the waves keep pounding
the sea is always changing
and the sky will never look the same
as it did tonight when the sun gave me a gift