It rises up amidst the distant mountain
An awe inspiring sight hard to ascertain
Shadows forming behind the tall pine
Wafting needles beginning to shine

Stars that glimmer now about to wane
A full moon beams without much strain
Black and white turns to shades of grey
Tones that change until the new day

Its lunar features remind us at last
Of cosmic events to a distant past
Craters litter its long barren surface
Forever dormant, absent of malice

Night hawks arrive in search of a meal
The moonlit night brings an awaited zeal
Ruminants graze under a glowing aura
The fauna at one with the abundant flora

Moon glow brings out such a different sense
Mysterious, mystifying and emotionally intense
A lifetime spent marveling its eerie wonder
Time is of the essence for us to ponder