The Peace of the Night

Wind whips my face
I watch as the sky
becomes a work of art
painted with color
those elaborate shades
criss-cross the horizon
as the sun bids
our town farewell
dragging with it
those elaborate colors
pulling them below
that flat edge of the world
that is as far as eye can see
as those glowing colors
dim to semidarkness
leaving behind
a brilliantly lit night sky
sparkling with stars
I lay back
against the hard, cold wood
with the water
that only minutes before
had been leaping at my toes
calming to a mirroring surface
all around
in every direction I look
I see darkness
sprinkled with light
I have never seen
anything more beautiful
than the peace of the night