Prior to last night, I didn’t know beauty could awaken me.

She woke me with a firm but gentle touch,
A fingertip of moonlight brushing my eye lids.
Groggy, I reluctantly opened my eyes to discover what culprit had disturbed my dreams,
only to find moonlight draped across my pillow like the long, silver hair of a lover.
I followed the path of light it had laid out for me
and caught my breath when I saw that the cedars were not just illuminated by its glow,
but rather were robed in it, like King and Queen of the Night.
Only now do I see why the tops of the trees are called crowns.

The fox, not one to be left out,
added his voice to the beauty of the night,
calling first from a distance,
then from directly below my window.
A traveling bard performing for their Majesties,
spinning tales of night’s mysteries.

How can one shut out such beauties and return to slumber?
I will never know. I chose to remain awakened to beauty.