Sunrise Over Burnt Porcupine Island  

At first I reckoned Venus,
       the morning star,
rising above first blush
       beyond dark firs
upon Burnt Porcupine.

Yet as the star increased
       its length in more
than an exponential span:
       I guessed a god
upon his chariot
       was towing the sun.

But then, the gods have gone
       contemporary.
Instead of Helios
       and a golden chain,
they utilize a plane
       and silver contrail
to haul the sun above
       Frenchman Bay at dawn.
















copyright Gregory Perry 07/99
revised 06/02