In the Stable

The full, pale moon lit up the yard,
so we didn’t need the flashlights for the time being.
There was no dog at the door
and there was no light.
However, there was no car in the driveway.
So, we went straight to the stable door.
We stopped for a moment
but no sound was heard
except for the wailing of the pigs in the pen.
We carefully opened the big gate,
that not locked
but only ajar.
We pushed one wing open just far enough
that we could slip through.
A breathtaking stench hit us,
and I was afraid of fainting.
But I pulled myself together.
Now wasn’t the time
to be weak.