This night is meant
for wandering
when hazy moon
drifts by and reaches in
to shake me
by surprise
she hovers at my window
there
bestirring me for company
and thus beseeched
I must oblige
arise she croons
and thence go I
barefooted soul
a hooded naif
I now belong to her
an eager child
I tread her wake
give up
chides she
all earthly care
the binds of humankind
and thrash your branchy arms
and throw your shadow high
climb up
up
these nights are solely
meant for we
these skies that whisk us
wayward wide
and tug our anchored core
we are not tree
connected fast
and rooted firm
stray free the grounding ties
unloose
uncurl
allow
the travelers life
we choose tonight
four winds shall bear us
soft and fleet
we'll set the sail
no chart nor will
and rudderless
we'll man the prow
as stars salt down
around us now

Sara Mathews     December 2022