Surprise! Shreds of cotton

are clumped on the neighbors’ rooftops--

and not just there but caught

on tree branches and piled on

the leaves of our orange tree, and

wait! Over there--the tops of

the highest hills have been sprinkled

with white ash. Can you believe it?

 

Cake crumbs lie nearly hidden

in lime grasses and cauliflower trees

all over Napa. And all over Napa

young children stare in disbelief

at what their dreams created

in the pillowy darkness.