Mokelumne Wilderness Insomnia
Sierra Nevada, California
Early September had a foot in winter.
Sunset, then nowhere to go but inside the tent,
double-layered, still exposed,
crescendoing wind playing pines like strings.
Nestled in the sleeping bag,
I could see nothing of the wild nightlife,
listened to murmurs (a deer mouse checking us out?)
whooshing (an owl swooping down on its prey?)
rustling (a bear stalking our food box?),
disembodied sounds.
Eyes open at 2 a.m., I emerged,
raised my gaze to close-packed stars,
the sky a pointillist painting, darkness illuminated.
I felt embraced, significant. There was meaning,
beyond the sparkles and below.
Simona Carini was born and grew up in Italy. She writes poetry and nonfiction (memoir, food, the outdoors)and has been published in various venues, online and in print, including Amethyst Press anthology Thin Places & Sacred Spaces (2024). Her first poetry collection Survival Time was published by Sheila-Na-Gig Editions (2022). She lives in Northern California with her husband, loves to spend time outdoors and in the kitchen. Her website is https://simonacarini.com
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