Jack Rabbit Dance

In the deep green dusk
the sundown calm
before the warm rain begins
they skip and spring
in a silk series
of movements
of ungainly grace.
They've waited all day
to feel the twilight grass
cool beneath them.
They know I watch
from field's edge.
They know
and dance anyway
five bodies
dusky graybrown
whitechested,
hard legs, long ears, bright eyes
filled with jumpwheeling joy
so alien
wild and holy
I'm almost afraid to grasp it.
But I look over my shoulder
as no jackrabbit would
and see there's
nobody else here
to join
and I turn back
jump onto the field
barefoot in mind and body
to whirl with them
through the shining night
in a jack rabbit dance.