Jupiter, above my backyard, at dusk (Image by author)
For Twilight Comes
The light fades from view, draining sky of its blue
sooner today than yesterday, upon dimming
clouds’ late summer shrug. A youngling’s
paradoxically mature leaves reflect retreating light
greater than majestic firs, but it too will yield
to darkness, youthful promise embraced by
earth’s shade. A confused rooster serenades
our good earth’s face turning away from our day.
He is joined by pampered, overfed dogs,
for the coyote song was forever silenced by
boxy condos where wetlands once came alive
at this hour. After the golden hour became
a greying sliver, the hues bowing-out,
merging with dusk till it is unclear where
one fence ends, and another begins,
all becomes clear and fair as shades of grey
fade to black, leaving only twinkling untouched
overhead, for twilight comes for us equally.
***
Written for Real Toads Weekend Mini Challenge: Let Evening Come, hosted by Kim M. Russell.
Hephaestus’ Waste & Cosmic Rubble 
There is a sadness about this poem as a human’s touch and intervention seems to make the world a less beautiful place.
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That certainly does seem to be the case these days, doesn’t it?
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I like the title, Barry, which emphasises the cycle, the fact that twilight will always come – or at least until the end of life. I love the way you’ve captured the end of summer in the opening stanza, especially the ‘late summer shrug’, and the ‘youthful promise embraced by earth’s shade’. There is also nostalgia in your poem, for the coyote song, something I have only ever heard in films and nature programmes. My favourite lines are:
‘a greying sliver, the hues bowing-out,
merging with dusk till it is unclear where
one fence ends, and another begins’.
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Thank you Kim. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Just as I was getting used to the coyote’s yipping, it was silenced by development. Now we have freaking rabbits everywhere. Ugh.
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So beautiful! Your back yard view is much like ours here in Bend Oregon.
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I’m in Redmond, Washington, so we’re regional neighbors. 🙂
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Captured it well.
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Thank you.
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like the draining of the sky image and the confused rooster! Nice writing
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I am late to the party today, but here now to read. This is a wonderful write Barry, and a worthy tribute to evening, and a solid reflection on chsnging habitat as humans advance,
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The fourth stanza says it all for me. Boxy condos where wetlands once came alive. Puts me in mind of that old Joanie Mitchell song, “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot”.
Thanks!
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Thank you. 😊
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Joni, I think she spelled it
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“youthful promise embraced by
earth’s shade.”
Just beautiful, Just Barry!
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