The night sky bloomed

with color —

unexpected as song,

welcome as benediction.

Rapturous,

the descending hues

of indigo and blue,

rose madder and scarlet

kissed the fringe

of treetops gold.

“Hurry,” he urged,

so I ran —

down the walk

through the frost-edged eve

into rapidly falling dark

to stand alone

as the paean subsided

amidst soaring

cathedral

trees.

— C.Birde