Noche de miedo

Cackles come careening around the corner

and climbing down curb-lined cul-de-sacs

on cool autumn evenings

Nothing can be done to prevent the amassment

the grandiose gathering

of evil intentions under orange lamps

illuminating holes.

Phantom leaves lay brittle on sharp blades,

sear, friable, vitreous and shattered shards of ecru erode to crumbs.

Ear-drums strain to find the bass, the bottom line

below all the trouble and high-notes, car alarms,

cat-fights, sirens, and ring-tones,

paper dolls were folding into cranes

and finger puppets on the wall were

pealing themselves off to crawl under beds

where the weary and wretched can lie 

awaiting a revelation, the bottom of the bowl,

the dark porch, the green-eyed monster or black cat

come out curious to see things through.

Los muerta de dia; la vida de disturbios. 




Painting by Jacob van Ruisdael [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.