To See a Sunset
 

Here’s what I’ve learned:

You have to be facing west, not east.

Trees get in the way. Buildings, too.

There can’t be too many clouds
or too few.

You have to be there at the right time. 

You can’t wait till that recorded episode
of NCIS is over.

You must get in your car and drive
to the appointed spot early.

And once you get there,
you can’t be looking at your phone,
reading that long article in The Atlantic.

You must look up. Give your full attention
to the dreamy colors spreading across the sky,
pink streaks deepening to red,
layers of orange blending between.

And when the sun has finished
its stunning show, you can go home
knowing exactly why
you haven’t seen
more sunsets before.