So Close

I wait in my quiet, the evening is still deep in its own. Nothing moves. Moonlight casts eerie shadows beneath the tall trees. Something wants to speak. I sense a fear, a reluctance to leave the dark cover of the evening, to come forward and approach me. And yet nothing betrays the still except now the soft whispers of leaves rippling unseen high in the canopy overhead. Please speak… But there is only the barely audible chatter of leaves. It seems to know me and has, for so long, been waiting in my silence. There are times when I can almost hear it breathe. Tonight it is particularly close, so near that I feel a part of it is reaching out to touch my hand but then, pulls back. It is so afraid, so in need of love.