Darkness Starts

A shadow in the shape of a house
slides out of a house
and loses its shape on the lawn.

Trees seek each other
as the wind within them dies.

Darkness starts inside of things
but keeps on going when the things are gone.

Barefoot careless in the farthest parts of the yard
children become their cries.

"Darkness Starts" by Christian Wiman from Hard Night, published by Copper Canyon Press. Copyright © 2005 by Christian Wiman. Reprinted with the permission of the publisher.