ADVENT: SILENCE
by Timothy Haut

Tick.  Tick.  Tick.
Through the darkness
The soft beat
Of the wall clock downstairs
Measures the span
Of another night,
Matches the beating
Of my heart 
Which may still keep its own
tick, tick, tick, 
for yet a while
Before the greater silence,
The final mystery.
I am awake tonight
Alert to the shadow sounds
Of  clock and heart
And a wisp of wind beyond the window.
It is an Advent stillness,
Stirred by haunting dreams, 
Or old, untended fears.
Then a voice from past journeys,
Or a child I have forgotten,
Calls me to wakefulness.
I wait for the creak of a door,
Listen for almost familiar footsteps,
Expect the quiet sound of someone
Who cannot wait for morning.
I sense a dark intruder, 
a holy stranger
seeking me in this deep silence.
He, too, has heard the calling 
of my heart.
Tick tick tick.

(Comments to Tim at timothyhaut@yahoo.com.)
Deep River, CT