NIGHT 



Neighbour used to follow their haunts 

 with his dog. 



On these nocturnal ft'ambles he learned 

 the habits of the wood mice, with their 

 large eyes and long, delicate ears — 

 beautiful little creatures they were. 

 He studied the stars that winked 

 through the lattice of the trees or 

 watched for the strange lights that 

 used to rise and hang over a low wood 

 to the south. He learned the meaning 

 of each Night sound that came to him 

 in these silent watches. The baying of 

 a pair of hounds away up the hill came 

 faint and far to tell of the wise little 

 cottontail eluding its pursuers. The 

 pungent odours of the forest were 

 known in time, but best of all he grew 

 to understand the wind that came 

 when trees were bare and sighed or 

 moaned or whispered gently by his 

 feet. Under the great arches were 

 heard the harmonies of the ancient 

 wood sighing for its vanished tribes, 

 moaning for its lost people. 



From the great organ music that rose 

 and fell in deep symphonies the tone 

 died down and became soft and gentle 

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