I remember,
When the night seemed
To welcome me in open arms.
When a light, airy breeze
Blew gently on my face;
Like a soft goodnight kiss
That a mother gives her child,
And the stars appear to shine
Like a diamond in the rough.
I close my eyes
And smell the aroma
That is carried on the wind.
The smells of a Mid-Autumn dream
Meet my nose, filling it
With the intoxicating fragrances
Of nut and fruit orchards,
Of pumpkin pies, nutmeg, and cloves.
I hear the cry
Of a bird of the night,
Hunting for a mouse
In the field across the road.
I also hear the roll of thunder,
Like a distant, muffled drum
That's played in a funeral march.
The breeze soon hastens
to a sharp wind.
The air begins to chill;
I'm far from home
And a storm is coming in,
Fast, like a great cat
Chasing its prey 'till it's brought down.
I start my way home, barefoot,
Through the field,
Holding the package from town
To my chest,
The foxtails and thorns
Scratching my ankles and legs.
I feel a raindrop,
Cold, like ice, upon my face.
It starts to sprinkle lightly,
A shallow pitter-patter of water
Falling to the parched and cracked lips
Of the sun-beaten ground.
And the rustling weeds
Seem to sound like a
Hissing Rattler at my feet.
The rain is now coming down
Like sheets of glass.
The harsh drops stinging my face
Like a thousand air born needles.
My fingers and toes are numb,
The wrapping on the box is becoming
Like wet tissue paper,
Crumbling in my hands;
But I continue home.
And as I climb the last hill,
I see the faint glow of
Candlelight shining from
A small window of
The cottage where I live.
As I slip and slide
Down the slick trail, covered in
Weeds, thorns and mud,
I climb up the steps
And open the door,
To see my family
Waiting for me to return.
I am bathed and
Warmed by the fire,
With Fathers warm wool blanket
Wrapped in folds around me.
My scratches tended to,
And my supper brought to me.
I am home at last.
As my father sits down
In his large chair,
I rise and give him the package
I had gotten from town.
He pats me on the shoulder
And I return
To the warmth of the fire.