Solstice

The day passed, and a new one began.

No fiery balls pelted the earth.  The world did not end.

But night now descends early and quickly.  The sun does not so much set as slide, thickly, into equally thick darkness.

For a few magic minutes, though, before the end of day, the path where the raccoon's few bones still lie glows, elongating and thickening my shadow into winter.