I remember how
it already snowed
a real snow
with flakes cascading
for hours
out of the whole black sky.
In the morning
soft yellow leaves began to
land on the bright snow
all over the neighborhood
tempting one into such lightness of heart
that unzipping your collar to the warm breeze
you could be forgiven
for thinking winter had come and gone
and spring was here again.
Just now
seeing how lit up it was
right before midnight
I undid the latch
and stepped out to see
the moon
high and bright
in the deep dark blue.
Tatters of white cloud swept eastward
as fast as clouds can go--
hurrying,
as life seems to, sometimes,
while down in the grass,
gusts of wind
lifted and rattled
the brittle leaves.
My breath hung in the air,
then disappeared upward.
I and the clouds are one
and ever shall be one
just as we are one
with the moon,
the empty branches,
the wind and stars and snow and leaves.
Every limb of mine began to hum.
I turned to come back in and go to sleep.