Midnight Shadows

Ring around the moon
midnight shadows beaten back
deer in my garden.

Just before eleven, I discovered a small raccoon under the large pole feeders in my back yard. He was licking up sunflower seeds and bits of suet that had fallen from the feeders onto the snow. With such vigorous licking I doubt anything with any food value is left – other than soil.

The moon is nearly full. At moonrise clouds veiled its face; as the clouds open there is a rainbow and a green/gold ring around the moon. At times I see brilliant stars then minutes later the sky is filled with fast moving clouds.

The raccoon has moved to the feeders in the front yard – meandering from one place to another licking up every scrap of suet and seeds to be found. The gray squirrels will be disappointed in the morning!

The moonlight is music to my eyes; it is calling to me to come out and follow its path through the woods. One could easily go for a long walk in this wonderful light. How I wish I could answer its siren call!

Two does wander past the raccoon but he ignores them and they walk on up the hill. I guess they can tell he has already cleaned out the fast food stop.

The clouds cover the moon and I am reminded of a haiku by Matsuo Bashō:

“The clouds
are giving these moon-watchers
a little break.”

more haiku at One Deep Breath Sorry for being the wrong time of day but this is what came out when I began to write.