The moon past full lit gravel lots
while stars yet wakeful blinked above.
Illumined shadows passing, sailed aloft,
and fallen dew lay underfoot, upon my path.
A solitary trail ran under boughs;
their branches stretching hid the path…
crooked shadows passing, ranked in rows—
where fallen leaves lay trodden, hushing steps.
Then out along mist-laden fields,
where dim the glow of dawn was yet,
a tall be-shadowed figure lurking,
looming dark at edge of morning,
walking, wading (as I went):
Through fields of fog there stalked an oak!
Now blushing sky set hills alight,
its clouds the wooded ridges cloaked:
cascading shadows, layered, robed the heights
while fallen under early light,
come Otherworldly into dawn,
my solitary stranger stood unmoved.
Caelan Rowan McCuen 