Shadow Lake

Above Shadow Lake, those twin peaks peer down as I rest;
an eerie remembrance wakes me from my weariness
of having rested on these rocks some forty years past
and having captured that then moment in memory.

A mnemograph of trail, aches, sky; of hopes, fears, self.
Twin selves reflected in apposition:
What distance between same place?
What sameness with distant self?

A faded image etched in now silver’d neurons,
retouched by these Sierran hues.  My older palate
savors the bittersweet of the distance traveled.   
A world before self – now a self before world.

I continue to the lake and touch my lips to its surface to sip.
Before, I opened my eyes and saw but myself reflected,
Now I am shadowed as one with the mountains above.