The Crux 

Sunrise cracks its orange egg 

in the crux of branches: it is crucial 

that the sun rise. Illuminating 

the terraces, back yards of snow 

and shadow, dogs let out to do  

their business. Sun fries in a crux  

of branches. A dark skillet, cast  

iron, casts the glow by which I know  

the frost from the scrubby yellow  

grass of my yard. Yellow fries 

of light before breakfast are good, 

an orange god hanging in the scaffolding 

of night even better, even if the cold  

is not healthy for my feet.

Cameron Morse is Senior Reviews editor at Harbor Review and the author of eight collections of poetry. His first collection, Fall Risk, won Glass Lyre Press’s 2018 Best Book Award. His latest is The Thing Is (Briar Creek Press, 2021). He holds an MFA from the University of Kansas City-Missouri and lives in Independence, Missouri, with his wife Lili and (soon, three) children. For more information, check out his Facebook page or website.