Sparking the Stars

The forest of pine, hemlock
and spruce, their silhouettes
darkly expressive in leaning trunks
bent to prevailing winds, encircle
the night-still waters of the
wilderness lake. From its far
reaches, a loon cries its haunting
call. Tending a woodfire on an
island shore, three people and 
a dog huddle for warmth. A
gust of errant wind sends the 
living fire of sparks skyward
from the glowing embers as
the clouds finally part, permitting
the sparks to prick the sky,
dangling there as stars,
radiant in the firmament.