Night

moonset on the dunes
the smell of last night’s bonfire
lingers in her hair
–
night tide-
stellar sands blaze
across the sky

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

walking to the car
mercury vapor street lamps
spilling blue green light
–
drizzle-
moths dance
in the streetlights

my open window-
from the red barn a white owl
asks me one question
–
transfixed-
the field mouse stares
at his death

withered autumn leaves-
not sure if he’ll live to see
another sunrise
–
desert stars-
hard and blue
in the moonlight

starless winter skies-
ebon velvet overhead
diamond dust below
–
curls of silver-
the night sky pierced
by the moon

cold drops of silver
spill into the open mouth
of the crescent moon
–
starlight-
a barn owl glides
through leafless trees