Sometimes, Oh, Often, Indeed

Sometimes, oh, often, indeed, in the midst of ugly adversity, beautiful
Memories return.
You awake in wonder, you awake at half-past four,
Wondering what wonder is in store.
You reach for your clothes in the dark and pull them on, you
have no time
Even to wash your face, you have to climb Megunticook.

You run through the sleeping town; you do not arouse
Even a dog, you are so young and so light on your feet.
What a way to live, what a way…
No breakfast, not even hungry. An apple, though,
In the pocket.
And the only people you meet are store-windows.

The path up the mountain is stony and in places steep,
And here it is really dark—wonderful, wonderful,
Wonderful—the smell of bark
And rotten leaves and dew! And nobody awake
In all the world but you!—
Who lie on a high cliff until your elbow ache,
To see the sun come up over Penobscot Bay.