Waking from my dream
I had the feeling
that something was amiss
I left the room
walked down the stairs
and saw the front door open
though I knew
I'd closed it
only hours before
I stepped outside
the sky was dark
alive with stars
the trees stood silent
pressing close
up to the house
and there
at the wood's edge
I saw him standing
watching as I turned
to look his way
no fear only
a sense of exultation
and sympathy
such as one might feel
seeing the earth
from space
or from a distance
a lion chasing down
a young gazelle
we stood awhile
gazing at one another
across the deep divide
that lay between
then he turned
and stepped away
into the forest
and I thought
my house will never
be the same