darkness falls heavy as morning light approaches
leaving breathless the air that moments before
held captive the sounds of shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
rustle of leaves, pop of twigs,
swoosh of anything passing closely
only audible, not seen.
the distant hills rise slowly from the depths
as light casts upward, like a fresh sheet
flipped to lay gently on the ground.
day breaks and the noises of before are replaced with
chirps and flutters, barks and caws.
darkness succumbs to light.
Michael E. Lanier
November 3, 2022
