Everything the light touched was my kingdom.

Early this evening,

I went running

as the day's rain was drying up

and the sun was just beginning

its initial descent,

just barely leaning toward the horizon.

I had run 4 miles

and just as I crested the last hill--

after which the road leading home

sloped sweetly downward the rest of the way--

a cloud jumped out of the way

and there was the brilliant sun.

And just then

one of my favorite songs

flared up into a reprise of the chorus,

and my feet pushed off hard

from the pavement

with each unrelenting beat.

I felt like a queen.

Like Simba.

Everything the light touched

was my kingdom.

I surveyed the miles and miles

of green and brown

laid out in the valley below me,

only rarely interrupted,

it seemed,

by some house or building.

My legs flew below me

without my making any effort.

I peeked back

as I rounded a corner,

and up from the south,

wide and evil behind me,

a mass of black rain clouds

pushed their way toward the sun.

It was a metaphor for Good and Evil

playing out in the sky.

And I knew that Good would win

and I would win.

A picture of my kingdom

from another day.