Night

early autumn leaves-
I should have asked you to dance
the first time we met
–
sidewalk bistro-
I glanced at my phone
and you were gone

rains of twilight passed-
crickets outside my window
singing me to sleep
–
tv static-
the low hum
of a ceiling fan

broken shower tiles
a bare bulb hangs from a chain
in my one room flat
–
after last call-
neon signs
light my way home

a bottlebrush tail
the cat readies to pounce on
the bat by my door
–
cans clatter-
small marauders
stalk the alleyway

under the night sky
conversation and laughter
as the fire dies down
–
starlight-
good friends and
wine loosened tongues

on the veranda-
fog slowly climbs the steps on
this soft starless night
–
walking the moon-
a thin fog blankets
fallen gravestones

shadows of the moon
climbing down from the treetops
to hide from the sun
–
lakeside dawn-
eider ducks
begin to stir

through lavender clouds-
the cheeks of the sky blushing
with the coming dawn
–
encroaching dawn-
last night’s candles
turned to smoke

awake in the dark
so transfixed by the vision
I can’t make a sound
–
the crickets silenced-
a specter looms
o’er my footboard

one hapless squirrel-
suddenly half the city
plunged into darkness
–
pulling weeds-
squirrels drop acorns
on my head