Living Life, In The Night

It's a balmy night
in Albate near Como.
Dusk is incipient,
total darkness will follow.
The sky starts twinkling
with a multitude of stars.

The garden comes alive
with guests that are active
when the sun is down.
There are flying bats,
nocturnal animals
who roost in a tree hollow
or under the villa's eaves.

They'll soon come out
spreading their wings wide
to prey and forage
for insects who may hide
under autumn leaves.

They will need courage
and take extra care
not to fall foul
of opportunistic predators
like raccoons or owls.

With hedgehogs and badgers
the place will be overrun;
if a fox also arrives
there won't be room
for everyone.

For every creature
hazards and danger loom;
everyone has weaknesses
that are laid bare
in the night's gloom.
In the small hours
it's a jungle out there.

© Luigi Pagano 2021