The Day's Departure Poem by Erica Brett

A breeze sweeps through the rustling leaves
Like the breath of an old man dying,
Speaking and creaking to and fro
Beneath the murmur of his children sighing.
It whispers and chitters through the scape
Of darkened shapes that stand,
Tall and proud midst waving trees
Upon the blackened sand.

And in this darkness, shading sight,
Creatures scurry low,
Toward rustling burrows of welcome warmth
That hide them from their frosty foe.
Crickets chirrup and string their bows
And haunting melodies play,
To which flaming fireflies spin and dance
Until the break of day.

The sun sinks slowly through the sea,
Its burning rays taint every crest,
Like lava melting from an egg
Within its frothy nest.
So the god of embers bows his head
And vanishes from sight,
Greeting silver splendid beams
That herald the dawn of night.