Modern Winter Sky

On cloudless December days, not long

after dawn, or before dusk, short, sunlit

contrails stand sharp and clear above

the horizon, like tailed comets.

Is it the angle, the earth's curvature, a low

sun, and cold, dry air that then determine

an observer's frame of reference and have

him conjure up celestial rarities?

Or is this association an uncontrived way

to tag a volatile feature of the modern

winter sky that calls back something

we have known for ages?