Where there are sidewalks, there are
no guard rails, despite steep drop-offs
on this hillside city. Despite exhaust
from taxis and trucks, little cherry tree
seedlings stake a claim between the city
streets and roadside parking—their niche,
a vertical plot of land, bridging earth
to sky. Cacophony of brightly colored
shop signs and colorful wares
create a maze for cars and walkers.
The late afternoon sun shines
above the blue mountains.
Beyond the multistory buildings
the horizon unveils row on row
of green and blue mountains,
fading into gray.
Suspended like a paper lantern
above the mountain ranges,
the late afternoon sun hangs,
round as a full moon,
washed pink as cherry petals.