“Vigil”

Long day’s night, the endless dream.

Hot night on the veranda, frog chirp, cicada scream.

Sharp night, a naked light, your voice come back over and over.

Howl shaking loose night’s woven threads.

Dog day’s night, cloudburst, rumble.

Night lifts its head.

Sloe night, lip sweat, steeped indigo.

Bright night’s incessant afterglow, and the day won’t take me back.

Twilight, not awake, not asleep.

Night the sky collapsed.

Solstice night hour after hour.

Waking and it’s still night:

Quarter to three, night’s heavy limb across my chest.

Night closing its capacious robes over me.

Unremembered night, the night I loved you best.

Nightingale’s song, your damp curls against my neck.

Night they put you in my arms.

That winter night, the early dark, your breath marking the air.

Night’s whispered name.

Night of helicopter’s drone and a punishing rain.

Night’s redaction, and a home turns ash and grave.

Watchful night, hand in hand, faraway pinprick of flame.