In the Shadows

Standing in the dark, cold cutting through the thin jacket or sweatshirt or whatever you threw on. Behind you cars whiz past on the bypass. You glance anxiously into the shadow of the trees, unable to see the imagined dangers they conceal. The wind blows them back and forth in its chaotic strength, and they bow to its wishes. Though your mind firmly tells itself to get a grip, your emotions hijack all rational thought as your imagination nurtures subdued terror. You look up from under the oak tree; the filaments of its naked branches weave a delicate lace across the sky. Through this you see the stars, though few are visible in the glare of man made lights. And, in spite of everything, you recognize the beauty in that cold night: the power of the dark and its harmony with silver light. You gaze for a moment, a moment of wonder, and then rush back to warmth and safety.