from the rooftop

i sit out here upon the roof
seeing great and feeling small
as sunset haze comes painted red
to fall upon the trees

i see glimpses of the gorge beyond
it takes my breath away
the haze of sunset covers all
and it sit here spellbound
hardly able to take in this autumn evening

somewhere within me emotions are mingled
this beauty touches a place so deep
it unstops both joy and pain
and though i smile i long to cry
to be as beautiful within
as this all is without

deeper now the colors turn
lights are flickering
as the haze grows slowly deeper
children's voices are carried
through the coolness of the air
and my heart yearns for that
which i have never know
never had and never understood
and i long for the One
who created all this beauty
to see His face as we take it in together

still i watch as darkness comes
and the spell is all but broken
the children have all gone inside
and the haze has covered all
all but the moon
all but my longing
all but the little glimpse of heaven
i had from the rooftop

(september 1998)