ZODIAC

Across the valley,

The woodland script is illuminated

By gold leaves;

Autumn at its most compelling.

But now twilight intervenes,

Chases goblins from the bushes,

And holy fools from the oaks.

Now it stealths along hedgerows,

Surfaces with the boundary ditch,

And enters my garden shed.

Still not content, this

Twilight coaxes Wagner out of radios,

And summons the shadows

From the hinterlands of lawn.

Now the page is closed,

The script forgotten.

Only stars are left,

Wide-eyed as children,

Corrupted by the Zodiac.

Copyright Michael Newman