why not
ear n nothingham
why not
fall deeply in
why not
sleep not open
why not
dream off clock

when the eyes fail to perceive
and the heart lessens to drink
when the brain tap nozzled
drips slowly in a lonely sink

when the owls shriek
in melodic tunes
when the moon quickens
like a lightening noon

yet it only a midnight draft
the floorboards creak
the shadowbird laughs
and yet ceases to speak

when the door swings open
and shingles screech for the moon
you think it's early
the crickets mumble in tune

when the night is up
the sparrow has yet to speak
crowing on a metalled fence
glistening powdered bleak

when the night is up
cows bury the dune
the night is, up
the mare is looking for the groom

sleeping softly in knickered wood
watering bamboo running wild
in leaf paddies lost in the memory
yes, yesterhours gleam
the clock is broken, the shopkeeper
broke- it was yesteryears problem anyways.
loving of all, the curtains quietly draw close
the windows hold steady, not softly shaking with the wind

i sit crooked in a lonely corner
trying to shock weary sockets to cry
weakened pulses beat in faithful order
electric tears ravage with dignity, undenied

the night is long and I am a short woman -
moved by the breeze, gazing at the stars.
the night is long, and at length unknown,
but as a holder of giants, and the planets afar.

I gather myself tightly
and charge at the horizon
for I know no other way
to carry this heart

slowly, clumsily
I shake off mud when it's clinging
sharpen my spears
I learn to make art

under the riverbed
the moon scatters silver
you carefully gather

whatever you can hold blue
shadows hang heavy
as your waterlogged pants
you still scoop, smiling

full pieces of our dreams
lodged between your fingers
water streams down your face
both sweat and tears ever sweet

i ready the basket
poised like a midnight crane
barely stirring in wane

several moments of pause,
and you look for me and
gaze with bottomless eyes
searching, for me asking
any reason, any sense, why
why won't I swim in the moonlight?