Even now the lake is smoothing its face
to see the first stars bursting out of the indigo sky 

The sun’s luxurious red hair trails on the far hills
who have already gone black with sleep. 

Armed with only their small chirping,
bats flail unselfconsciously through the woods. 

All these things point me out to myself. 

I am shaking. This is happening. This is always happening somewhere and right in front of me. 

The moonless beach holds me in a pale outline
as if to say to the rest of the gathered pantheon:
these ones need our help, and they don’t know how badly.