And I Wave Back

Outside the hatch he turns slowly and talks but I can't make out the words he says they fall from his lips dangle and float in space outside the backyard fence a hill grabs the moon and then slowly lets it go again the moon floating just out of reach laughs; 'Go on...do that again! ' the hill smiles: 'Just you wait... just you wait! ' the moon beams as a little bird gingerly(as if at first unsure) steps out into space and then finds flight take hold of it as if it had only discovered it that minute and absconds with it the darkness barks and falls into silence and then another part of the darkness barks back held in a gentleness a leaf tiptoes down the breeze as if descending a spiral staircase Time holds its breath outside the hatch flat on his back the earth a little blue ball he has let go of the astronaut slowly turns and waves & I wave back.