At the crest of the hill

in a small clearing in the woods

a glowing cabin with canvas walls

waits to shelter us every night.

Hiking through the woods up the hill

we have time to leave the day behind,

time to listen for the sounds of the forest,

time to adjust to the quiet and dark.

Then, as we step into the clearing,

the blanket of stars overhead takes my breath away

so amazing, overpowering, every night, every night.

It stops me in my tracks and joy washes over me.

How can something so distant bring a feeling

of being held close in ultimate safety?

Even the memory of that feeling

carries me through days and nights when I am away.

Helen Wilson, 2015