Light on Water

Early to bed,
this sleepy-
head me
was asleep
at nine thirty
to wake up
at three,
a cramp
in my leg
between
ankle
and knee.
So I left
my soft bed
to go out
to stew
in a steaming
hot tub
in the
night sky’s
full view,
looked up
at the sky
and could see
only two
objects
so brilliant,
they lit up
the sky.
Bright light
against black,
so vivid
and high,
with no
other stars
to compete
for my eye.
The Moon
a bright disc
that lit up
the night,
and a planet
or star
that was
equally bright,
piercing
the darkness
with heavenly
light.
Jupiter
As small as a raisin,
as bright as the moon,
over mountain and ocean
 and meadow and dune,
 it’s a midnight sonata
   minus a tune.

     True story.

The duet of a full moon and bright Jupiter, the only other object in the sky, was magical.