In the Evening - Billy Collins

[Larry Robinson]

In the Evening

The heads of roses begin to droop.  
The bee who has been hauling his gold 
all day finds a hexagon in which to rest.  

In the sky, traces of clouds, 
the last few darting birds, 
watercolors on the horizon.  

The white cat sits facing a wall.  
The horse in the field is asleep on its feet.  

I light a candle on the wood table.  
I take another sip of wine.  
I pick an onion and a knife.  

And the past and the future?  
Nothing but an only child with two different masks.  

	- Billy Collins