Thursday, November 17, 2011

Eigengrau

the sudden saccade
of the eye
from one dark
to another
& the lip jerks
to reveal bared incisor

the embyronic shadows
conceal still
the cowled demon
of nightmare,
huddled, unbreathing,
diamond-bright eyes
fixed on the bed

the hiss of dream,
departing -
a crack in the window
through which a
trysting lover is going
psst
psst

the bedside lamp allows
only a quaver of littoral light -
the bulb may burn out,
pulses weakly
in electric thrust
& does not
dispel the demon

there is no one
at the window.
there is no one
in the corner.
there is no one
in the bed.

the room is empty
and the light is on,

and yet, hear:
the snap and pop
of sinews tightening, and
the cavernous yawn
of something still waking

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