Wind squeezes the thin walls of my shelter
like the back of a white giant beast
I hold my breath till it walks away
murmuring its discontent
leaving broken gray fog on the damp fence
 
silence drips from treetops, through leaves
cocks’ crows scratch the night sky
sparkles trailing from their beaks
 
trees on the mountains become quiet
like clerics bowing their heads to pray
something must have happened in the night
 
though shining ripples continue to widen 
the whisper of the river sings me a lullaby
as it glows and moves on, carrying the land
night dew soothes the aching eyelids of a starry sky