midnight grinds sleep until it is
small and thin
declarations of love
coauthored by a silent mailbox
bravely face the cold

the roof doesn't move a muscle
under the night's black paws
the starting gate blows open and shut
all night long
the juggler drops his eggs
a dream like a bandage
flaps in the wind

the woman in her silk nightgown
yanks the door open, shaking the heavens.
like a deer, she runs wildly barefoot over
the oriental carpet.  a huge moth flies across the wall
plunges into the crackling fire of a ringing telephone

In the receiver
Silence.
only snow
goes on speaking on the power lines