Laura Hooper
Near Night
When I awake before the sun has lightened
this world, I go outside, look across this valley
into its green-blackness, and wait for owl sounds
or the silence of stars to surround me.
Once, my attention caught a light, darting amongst
those oaks that skin that far hillside. Then it was gone,
then it returned. Illumination with a stride and a swing,
advancing at an angle up, toward the top.
I could only see this hiker this way. Could
only know someone was out there in the dark,
moving, carrying their own light.
