Woman Waking In Wilderness Poem by Nancy Ames

'You shouldn't grope around
in the dark that way. You
might find something that
isn't friendly.

I know you can see a
piece of it. It's not
moving now but you can
hear it breathing.

Someone must have finally
shut the door. Last night
the moonlight and the wind
were playful and threatening
like young wolves.

Four walls and a roof
make big magic.
Yesterday, the horses
were here again,
watching us through
the windows.

I laughed in the morning
and at noon I sang
like a rock star. At least,
the children are happy.