Shelter

A sestina about sleeping under a tree on a dark, rainy night.

When he stopped for the night

it began to rain.

So under the tree

he built a fire

against the storm clouds

that had blocked the stars.

Without the stars

it was a dark night,

trapped by clouds

and endless rain,

with the warmth of the fire

only sheltered by the tree.

It was that tree,

with its watchful leaves as stars,

that shielded the fire

and carried him through the night

from the endless rain

caused by ominous clouds.

But as he looked at the clouds

from under the tree:

less dreadful seemed the rain

that had coldly hid the stars,

and peaceful seemed the night,

and comforting seemed the fire.

And so the fire

illuminated the clouds

that darkened the night.

And protected by the tree,

he closed his eyes to see stars,

and listened to the rain.

With the steady tapping of rain

and warm caress of the fire,

dreaming of stars

behind the clouds,

watched by the tree,

sleep was brought to the night.

As rain came from the clouds,

he laid by the fire and the tree

and dreamt of stars in the night.