owl, coyote, dry-leaf rattle 

stars in the vast-above

moonlight on snow tells the tale

horses rump-to-wind, six of them, or eight or five

in the lee of timber

front legs locked, one hind leg cocked, at ease

winter coats ruffle, eyes half-mast

long lashes dip

muzzles' vaporous exhalations chuff 

almost still, weight shifts one leg to another 

throughout the many-parted night

dark of pre-moon, half-light of half-moon, colorless shadows

pre-dawn suggestive light, dawn early-light, the awakening

muzzles, lashes, winter coats frosted

~

the omniscient observer hears the owl

the coyote, the rattling leaf

knows horses stand rump-to-wind

shift their weight throughout the night

cast colorless shadows

finds frost on coats, muzzles, lashes come dawn

omniscience is the equivalent of hearsay

testimony struck down

there are horses, owls, coyotes

dry leaves, wind, stars, moonlight, snow

the rest, rump-to-wind

shifting, chuffing, frost is speculation

still, it's a pretty picture, i suspect the truth of it

would rather believe it than not