I did not ask
After the sun had left
For anything
Not in the darkness
Or the darkest part of the night
As the rain fell outside
And sirens wailed
Somewhere in the streets
I did not ask one word
In the stillness
Within the walls of
Concrete and plaster
But I lay within listening
To the wind dance
With autumn raindrops
Waiting for sleep to steal in
Between one breath
and the next
The weight of knowing
Like pouring honey over
A hornets’ nest
until no longer
Can I stay in place
To receive the consequence
Or help those
Who must bear it
I should have asked
To be taken
Like a leaf newly turned
Dropped from the limb
Swept up from the ground
By the wind then left
Plastered by the rain
On some other window
Waiting to be seen
To be discovered in time
Then discarded long enough
To return to the soil
I know well
I should have asked
To scream my silence
Pierce the night
Until dawn broke in
And let the light reveal
As it could
I should have
But could not
Instead in the darkness
Waiting
Wrapped in blankets
against the chill
I listen to the rainfall
And imagine parts of me
Washing away with it
Into the deep night
Hoping dreams
Will take me there
~
