A dog, a man, a fire
Oncoming dark

The man sits
The dog lies
Both close by the fire

Both entranced by flame
Radiating heat
Sounds of Cicadas

Time goes by unnoticed
Except for the
imperceptibly
slow
ascendance
of the almost full moon

The dog
Safe in his centered space
Drops his muzzle between his paws
Lolls his tongue
Reflected red in glowing coals

The man, with his gift of language
Thinks “I should say something”
Abstract these concrete feelings
Preserve this moment for posterity
With just a few kind words

Pray he holds his tongue
In moments like these
Words are sacrilege

Breaking awe full silence
Rending temple curtains
Pinning names on G_d