Passing Time Poem by JJ Evendon

It's the early hours
and the sun has yet to rise.
I am awake without thought.
Dispelling distraction.

It's the autumn equinox.
Yesterday, the last day of summer.
Today, the beginning of autumn.
Tomorrow, more night, less day.

Leaves on trees begin slowly to change colour:
from green to fiery red, golden yellow or brown.

The weather too has changed.
Air becoming more autumnal.
Blowing longer, stronger, more cold and heavier than before
making my window rattle like a train carriage.
It is not this that keeps me awake
but something else...

Outside, trees sway under a grim night.
Leaves pulled by their stems
created by the passing storm
flail like a basket of fish.

The drooping branches of a willow-
barely visible from my window -
dangle like long tentacles of a gigantic jelly fish
drifting in a sea of air.
A kite in the wind.
Graceful and uplifting.

I lie quiet.
Eyes open.
Listening to the sounds of the night.
In a corner to my right, a blue sensor light flickers -
on....off..........on..off... -
Strange.
What is causing this I wonder?
I look around my still darkened room
only to see shadows move along the walls
and again on the ceiling.
I peer harder, but see nothing
for it is still too dark.

It's 3am... time of the witching hour.
I switch on the light
and the shadows disappear.
I get up to make a cup of tea.
My cat Mozart follows me.
He thinks he's in for an early treat.
Maybe he's right.
I quickly get back into bed
only to hear the incessant purring of a contented cat.
I pull a pillow over my head to block out his cheerfulness.
Soon the window begins to rattle again.
My snoring joined by the orchestra outside.