There are certain times of day that I find magical.  Dusk is one of those moments.  When the sun has gone down beyond the horizon and everything becomes still and quiet.  The busyness of the world has faded and we settle in towards a time of rest.  Some nights I sit by my fire and gaze out the window to watch as dusk falls.  Other days I step outside and feel the peace of the evening wrap its arms around me.  Dusk is not just a time of day.  For me, it has a feeling associated with it too. In this poem, I have attempted to describe this feeling.

Dusk Falls
By Krista Longeway

Slowly the light fades 
and gently dusk settles in around us,
wrapping us in her arms like a mother
cradling her infant protectively.
Above, the skies are filled with a soft darkness.
A rounded moon sits just above the distant hills,
looking down on the earth with a knowing smile.
The bare branches of the oaks stretch upwards,
silhouetted black against the inky blue of a night sky.
The lights from distant windows 
are scattered across the hillside,
bringing to mind the tinkling of children’s laughter 
and the patter of small feet on the stairs;
echoes of days gone by.
In the stillness 
I feel the rhythm of the waves upon the shore.  
The heartbeat of the sea 
lulling my mind into a peaceful calm 
that settles over me
like a warm blanket in the cool night air.  
In the hush of this moment
I am at peace within myself
and all is right with the world.