"Mother Night" by Donald Mason

 Heat lightning 
 Too distant for thunder 
 Slowly but surely brings 
 The spell that I'm under 
 Slowly creeps up like the leaves on the forest floor 
 
 Pine branches 
 Their gnarled fingers seek me 
 But I'm hidden on the ground 
 Where they'll never reach me 
 Lying in wait like the leaves on the forest floor 
 
 Milk raindrops 
 Nurse me from the skies 
 Mother wraps me in darkness 
 With the stars in her eyes 
 Parched brown like the leaves, I nurse on the forest floor 
 
 Thunder cracks 
 That dawn may never break 
 The milk, too sweet, robs me 
 Of the breath I'll never take 
 My aching spirit leaves me lying on the forest floor


Posted February 12, 2000.