Poem by Mike Magrath. Original poetic line breaks and two-column reading order preserved.
Having settled in our countryside Sleepy Hollow haven rented for the weekend. Having warmed by the glowing fireplace we lit to christen and welcome the beginning of this time together with special friends, our children and the much needed renewed acquaintance with peace, quiet, ourselves, each other, and nature. Our warmth having mellowed the rest retired. I could not, as my rekindled spirit sought to savor some moments to myself. I walked on this beautiful moonlit, frosty November night. The full moon glowing much as a solitary light illuminating the stage below it. The sounds, the beautiful sounds of silence. Water trickling from the spring; an occasional squirrel, rabbit, or other night-time wanderer rustling through the leaves and branches of the forest’s floor. The absolute stillness of the spring-fed ponds mirroring beautifully the moon’s glowing presence, a surely pleasing reflection of itself. I was warmed on this frost-filled night. The frost covering all that lay still below it as a beautiful, soft, fragile veil spread gently and precisely over the trees, leaves, tables, grass and all within its reach. Glistening in the moon light a spectacular display of sparkle and glitter as though Jack Frost was hosting a family reunion so all who gathered could dance and shine together. A fabulous ballet I joined them in their standing ovation to each other I thanked them all for their inspiring display of solidarity, and for the warmth and peace their radiance brought me. I began to retire from this ecstatic encounter and turned in the meadow for another glimpse of the moon, and discovered a beautiful, towering tree in the meadow’s middle had framed within its branches the moon, its brilliant splendor captured like a final curtain call and giving me a lasting image to be engraved in the archives of my mind’s memorable moments.
Originally published in The Paper, March 1981.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1981_03.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
