Dawning

after long night of wind & rain
lulling the tent there is silence at dawn
then birdsong & faint roar of faraway streams

woodpecker tapping frenzied telex
chaffinch's trickle-down song
the cushat's burr burr-burr
& great tit's insistent bi-syll ab-ic

all bursting with communication
but i know not what they are saying

my heart is beating
hard against the ground
night thoughts

still

my heart is beating
hard against the ground
but i know not what it is saying

my body is warm
on the cold ground

put aside the arcane things of the night
the fox's bark the owl's shriek
the dark thoughts of the night
for it is dawn & there is

the heartmelting cry of lambs
& my heart is beating so fast
as if i am really living at last