January 2026

At Dawn II

At Dawn II

by Ed Mervine

At dawn,

the San Gabriels are back,

stunningly beautiful, majestic, serene,

and today, cloudless and smoke free.

At dawn,

our house stands untouched 

save for portable water, toxic air,

and a garden filled with debris.

At dawn,

across the street,

a Craftsman and garden,

home to three generations of Jones'

..gone...

At dawn,

the City on a Hill is still there,

charred by MAGA's fire, shining less.

A beacon no longer.

At dawn,

the San Gabriel's are back

wearing charcoal gray softened by fresh gr

but as always stunning, majestic, and serene.

🤗🤗😃😃😃🤔😎😎😃😃 This poem was written and read by Ed Mervine at A Poetry Gathering