Arizona Sunsets

We have a tradition in my house
Everything stops for the sunset.
If it’s a good one we call each other
Quick! Come outside and see.

Last night the sunset sky
Redefined yellow.
With more than gold
More than saffron
Ochre, chrome and jasmine.
My thesaurus fails me.

No one from elsewhere
Believes me when I say
The Arizona sky lights
In colors unknown by mere
Mortals.
I learned to love purple here
And the Mexican serape.

The Father of lights
Paints in muted tones
Elsewhere.
But in Arizona He shouts.
He dances in swirls and
Swoops and reaches
Grand Crescendos.

We have a tradition at my house.
Everything stops for the sunset.