Midnight meeting

We met tonight without you knowing so;

I chanced upon you ‘bout an hour ago.

I was tempted by this quiet lake, and

saw you sleeping safely on the sand—

I seized the moment for quiet reflection

beside the lake, your sovereign section.

So large a bird, so white, so clean; you now

stir from sleep to waddle down, proudly bow,

and sink into the rippled mirror:

a fragile, feathered sailboat draws nearer.

I keep my seat upon a shortened pine,

not making a sound, a move, or sign

that I exist. You chortle to your mate,

soundly sleeping on leafy substrate.

A chilly breeze scrapes across my skin

and brushes away any warmth within,

but I will keep my seat until you creep

onto shore and fold yourself back to sleep.