(Marin County, California)

Has the magic gone away?
Nothing special here,
just another storefront bedroom,
sinuous road to riches.
Is it true—
the maiden is gone,
slipped from her mount,
disappeared into northern woods,
taking with her the magic?
No.
Still she slumbers,
where the hills are alive with sprites,
where the mists creep over the peaks,
and drift tumble slide
into the valleys.
Nor is the magic lost,
simply hidden:
waiting, willing, wanting to be found,
ready to dazzle, amaze,
reveal.
Indeed, the magic is all around. It is we
who are missing, safely secreted,
senses stopped,
in our hideaway.