“Spring Night” – Day 20 of National Poetry Month

With the spring night cooling, I clench my bedtime glass of water.
I am sitting up, hours from wonderland
In the soft glow of a Himalayan salt lamp,
A harem of ionized kisses in the otherwise dark,
Waiting for blackout.
With the storm winds settling, I close the bedroom window;
There’s nothing left to watch except a street
In suburban disconnect under uneventful hush,
Holding its breath with neighbors guarded behind heavily armed front doors
And designer welcome mats.
With my water empty, I promptly fill another glass.
I am waiting up for wonderland
Beneath the patient ticking of my novelty clock,
A steady soundtrack to first contact
Should rainbow strobe lights spill through closed blinds.
With the damp air yawning, I dream of sleep in springtime
But sit in the lullaby stillness of another midnight,
Nodding ineffectively toward wonderland,
In anticipation of an April morning
Drinking water.

April 20th, 2019