A Summer's Night

A quiet evening beings with the sun
setting in the west, the clouds changing
from silver to the hues of red,
purple, blue, and golden orange.

The shadows extend their hands to the land
growing into the pervasive dark,
a thoughtful silence is interrupted
by the songs of crickets and nightlarks.

While the blackness grows, a new light appears
to cheer the nighttime sky,
it is the moon, her aged face
looks and smiles at the glowing firefly

Dancing across its shimmering surface,
ripples flee from the rage of water
falling from the hill's crown;
the spirit of the waterfall coming down.

The pounding droning of the water accompanies
the symphony of the forest,
from trees innumerous the living instruments
play and sing their teeming chorus.

The owls hoot while silently gliding,
their heads turning, listening while flying,
The wolves howl heavenwards, to the white gem
in hope the moon will favor them.

With endless romance and undying love
the frogs croak graciously in the mud,
Yet most life never hears their song...
with the comfort of sleep holding on.

Snatch! the bat has grabbed his dinner,
flying blindly with his meal
he hears the sounds of this summer
night in its glory, yet greater dark concealed
lies in the gloom of the bats' cave.
The community of bats hold vigil
for those who left that night
to provide for those they would fill.

The snake slithers through the pitch black
that permeates the living floor of the bats...
The scorpions sting hangs above his head
threatening all that would approach his bed.

Without sight while decked in mail
the blind fish fly in hidden streams
flowing inside the cave's bowels,
past the end of the spider's trail.

But lo! piercing the inky air
a single beam illuminates a stair
forgotten by all save nature's mind
the ledges climb skyward in glowing incline.

Life stirs gradually while the moons sets
to her bed where she had slept
the day before and will sleep again
while a cloud rises from the ground's wet.

Rising slowly like a golden balloon
the sun rises, dispelling all gloom
life awakens again for the creatures of day
as the night ends to a summer day.