The night bird

Daylight is falling
Theres a chill in the air
The moon, she is rising
and lights up a stare;
A creature is spreading
its wings to appear
shaking out dust
from the sleep of the day,
Arising of full glory
a king of the high way

Cautious, he steps
from his perch on a tree
surveying the scene
he full swoops fearlessly
Gliding, he heads
for the light of the lake
A glistening gem
In the moonlight’s full wake.

Fly bird, with all your will
Up in the skies
Right over the hill
Dip and dive
and tumble and weave
Its just the moonlight
you and the breeze.

Now to the city
where the light’s full bright
People dancing
through the night
Look to the sky
where the nightly bird
passes on by
right round the world

Who has ever
seen such grace
heard such a cry,
seen such a chase?
Watch out you there
down below
who knows where
he might choose to go

Imagine all that he has seen
of open land
and wide blue sea
Of sun-soaked valleys
decked in green
and mountain lakes
so high and clean

Fly bird with all your will
up in the skies
right over the hill
dip and dive
and tumble and weave
It’s just the moonlight
you and the breeze.

Now to the city
and the lights full bright.
People dancing
through the night
look to the sky
where this nightly bird
Passes on
Right round the world

Daylight is rising
he looks to the east
Heads back for home
Full from the feast
Lay down those feathers
curl up those feet.
Your work now is done
You can go to sleep!

A poem by Emily Nash

The winner of the 3rd poetry competition