Shine Upon My Hour

In the deep hours of night, I am awoken by gentle moonlight falling, soft and luminous, upon my face and hair. I silently greet this moon rising into the quiet night sky before falling asleep once more. I have a special fondness for the wild beauty of the waning moon. I do not know why.

Past my window, the moon continues to rise, sharing its bounty, glimmering upon the river water and illuminating the surrounding hills. Above them, fine clouds have become lustrous platinum the light of which fills the land so that it seems a fairyland I do not know. Instead of my own small realm which I know so well.

In the morning I will see that we have had visitors: fresh footprints are made by small creatures that walk silently upon the soft earth overnight. Who they are I cannot say, for in this place nearly anything is possible. But I observe very little outside in the cool Winter night, even under this beautiful moon, because my bed is so warm and sleep is so delicious here.

Snow blankets the woods, the skies are vast and quiet, the earth remains serene. What lovely peace this is.