I am sitting

in a room

half darkened

by the moon

twixt wax

twixt wane

listen

can you hear

the near dry stream

seeping over

its shallow

pebble bed

I wonder many things

on this night

half dawn

half dusk

half hope

half fear

yes

an owl

sends solitary signals

half hope

half stoic

as only

a night like this

can be

a field mouse

darts along

the border of the floor

and rag doll rug

in out

out in

the moon's reflection

betrays escape

to fields burnt

dry by weeks of famine

bleached bare

by relentless sun

that owl again

I set my mind

to easier times

hoot hoot

not easier for

that mouse

I fear

hoot