Aurora Borealis

Winter time finds me,

with the onset of the cold,

wanting only to flee

this town

and drive five or six hours north

to a latitude of higher geomagnetic activity

where the Aurora will shine green and red and brilliant.

Where we will take pictures with your Holga

and cross our fingers that they turn out.

Far away from the town-glow

the terrible side effect of strip malls

that follows you for 5o or 60 miles,

and 20 some odd years,

until you are far away in the dark.

The trick is catching it.

Calculating that exact moment

the perfect latitude

the right moon cycle

the juncture when that storm of space dust

will burn brilliantly overhead.

Find someone on your exact same wavelength

and try to freeze time

with a picture.