Vespers
Vespers
open the door
just a crack
she’s scared of the draught
and a kinked neck
or the rain
pregnant with black spores
just a crack
so we’ll hear the dogs snorin’
next door
and the frogs
peepin’ in the puddles
but then
like clockwork
at a quarter to twelve
she’ll wander
damn near sleepwalking
to close
the window
and draw
the sheets
to her chin
muttering
it’s cold
and damp
and I can’t sleep
with all that ruckus
R L Raymond, From: Weakdays