Midnight Hour

When the sun goes to sleep

And the moon comes out to play

The stars twinkle down below

At the still-life display,

A flutter of wings disturbs the silence

A cloud of bats swoops into sight—

Then the colony drops down to the river

Sharp red teeth and a screech into the night

Then a subtle squeak comes from the ground

And a furry body comes out—

It sniffs around and takes a cautious step out,

And scurries away without any doubt

But up above a life-giving tree,

A sharp-eyed owl stares at the mouse,

And swoops silently down—

A caw, a shriek, a crunch and a now-empty house

Then the sun opens its eyes,

And the first rays of light come down upon the Earth,

The soft white clouds rise to the skies, 

And the moon goes back to bed.