In the Dark

light of distant stars
made me smile when I was young
they tickle me still

Wrapped within
its frightening folds
there’s a certain
stark naked truth at night.
Under cover of darkness
life dances to different rhythms,
a stealthy, more real
cadence than accompanies the day

Gaia seems to soften
harsher realities
within the muted wavelengths
painting the night
with dark blue, gray and black

It is the time of predators
lying in wait, but also
of blossoms self-swaddled
recuperating from the rigors of light lunches

Perhaps an intrusion,
maybe in violation
of some unwritten rule
I challenge the dark
with flashes of light
stealing images
and beholding wonders --
terrible beauty --
stalking, killing
culling the weak
consuming rot and decay,
preening unseen,
and in command of darkness’ domain