Night Viewing

[summer_jackel]

I walked out in darkness,
a few weeks before the winter solstice.
It was a clear, cold night
and I wanted to appreciate before the storms came,
to lie on the flat rock on top of the hill across the highway
from the canyon where I dwell,
and watch the stars.

Three young dogs were only too thrilled
for the opportunity to prowl in moonlight,
even though they could not keep their leashes untangled.

A half-moon painted blue shadows from the redwoods
and made the grass atop the hill inviting silver,
touched the stately darkness of the trees across the ridge.
I gathered the puppies close and stared up at the moonlight,
and saw in the stars of Orion the mantle of a giant squid
spread gloriously across the heavens.
Or perhaps she is a huntress
with three stars the neck of her tall hound.

Eventually, we must return
but only after the owl calls in autumn silence, three times
and then four
as we slip back under the canopy, comforted by
the great cool spangled arms of Architeuthis high above.