I Went Out to Hear

The sound of quiet. The sky

indigo, steeping

deeper from the top, like tea.

In the absence

of anything else, my own

breathing became obscene.

I heard the beating

of bats' wings before

the air troubled above

my head, turned to look

and saw them gone.

On the surface of the black

lake, a swan and the moon

stayed perfectly

still. I knew this was

a perfect moment.

Which would only hurt me

to remember and never

live again. My God. How lucky to have lived

a life I would die for.