Sleep

mornings

standing by the sink-
I feel the warmth from your feet
on the bathroom floor
–
lost in your dreams-
I silence my alarm
before it wakes you

seventh floor walk up-
down in the street feral cats
howl in the moonlight
–
stuck to my sheets-
the only breeze
from a passing train

bright mid-winter stars-
your alabaster shoulders
dressed by the ghost moon
–
rumpled sheets-
asleep intertwined
blanketed by the moon

hard edged and soulless-
the treacherous dawn comes to
spirit you away
–
softly closing doors-
again I awake
to an empty bed

a cold night’s work done-
the creeping light of daybreak
seeps into my tomb
–
guttering torchlight-
weary of the death
that slakes my thirst

milkweed in the wind-
beside the ancient live oak
I bury our bones
–
a lonesome gong-
pale wisps of trees
fade in the mist

my rhododendrons-
robins erupt into song
just before the dawn
–
the sun rises-
heedless of the
whiskey and beer

warm morning birdsong-
my love asleep next to me
aglow in the sun
–
robin song-
curtains sway in
the morning breeze

a field of shadows-
the bargains made with myself
so swiftly broken
–
a full flower moon-
silver shadowed
daffodils

your hand grasps my thumb-
our breathing becomes one as
sleep takes you away
–
post bottle-
a twitch wakes you
for just a moment