Crossing the gully on a highway fill

I look down into the sunlit willow crown,

winter’s orange twigs are over painted with 

a thalo green and cadmium yellow wash 

of emerging leaves.

Rossini’s overture sweeps me along

the unrolling ribbon of homeward highway.

Green hills fling their arms out to both sides.

Battered yellow newspaper box across the faded yellow highway centerline.