For a change of pace, I thought readers would enjoy this original poem, and an exceptional photograph of an aurora borealis taken at Chena Lake, Alaska.

Aurora Borealis

This dancing fire touches the spirit,
touches the lips, surrounds and warms the heart.
Our snug bodies take it in.
Our love as soft and pure as the rainbow
of our youth that brought us together.

This quiet sojourn, each atom ablaze
that belongs to you belongs to me,
each moment is our moment,
this space a chapel.
The mercies are ours.

I wish we could take it home with us—
this shimmering night, sureness of soul
and freshness of it all, this peace.
Then, no sweeping sky is like this.
No other sky.

Stephen Cipot
Garden City Park