AT TOWN'S EDGE

What little hair I have is white
which peeks from under my hat's brim
as I head home to beat the night.
I pause a moment on a whim
just to look at all I see.

I've stopped between the town and home,
not really country but hardly town,
where both house cats and white tails roam
and not all trees have been cut down.
I shift my weight off old sore knee.

The sun winks off behind the trees
as wood ducks whistle toward the marsh
a whippoorwill begins his tease.
A lone hawk screams out loud and harsh
while a squirrel sprints up his den tree.

One by one the stars ignite,
the harvest moon begins to rise
as day time segues into night.
Far away a mournful coyote cries
as a nearby pet dog barks at me.

Lights and their windows now switch on
announcing the final end of day,
reminding me it's time I'm gone.
From home I've been too long away;
toward hearth and love my feet now hurry.