Dawn

A blue heron
stands guard.

Drunk on light
two otters
mate like snakes
in the dark water
in and out
up and down
waves ripple
in the stillness.

Prostrate
on the pine needles
my body awakens
to the scent
of life.

An owl calls
the night's end
and the wind whispers
"We were put here
on this Earth
to witness Beauty."

The day dawns.