Tonight I Saw the Shadows Land

Tonight I saw them loud.

Lonely 
under the cloudcast-filtered glow

of a crescent mooned evening sky

it began high 
up in the old pecan tree

over the roof of such supposed abodes.

I heard the bats again,

screeching for a night-time wood.

Within the gloom 
a dark flash

gives pacing such quick, directed wind.

See them land 
right down there

in the mossy grass so anticipating rain.

Like big old crows 
they came swooping down

and following the mighty screeches,

landed in my yard.

The shadows,

like birds

first are wings beautifully aflutter

but touching down wings get tucked to walk

and like all things God

must only wobble in this realm.

I know you must not pity shadows

yet, here they come to roost tonight!

But the sadness, 
the stakeout

I so deeply understand

and it's as if 
the old cedar somehow knew

the ones to beckon the corners of my eye

and it's as if 
the old cedar somehow knew

which ones mine 
and which ones flying by.