Forest Nightfall

As dusk too early begins
to shutter the light of the day
the last trill of a thrush
presumes on the hush
that lulls the early winter 
forest to rest. Wind has
vacated the snow-dappled
landscape as a veiled mist,
faintly opaque, rises to meet
evening's rush to send 
darkness, a coverlet to lend
the mystery of lengthening
shadows' anonymity, finally
engulfing all in the clutch
of the dense dark of nightfall.