Something Gives Unto the Night

one o’clock in the morning
sitting here
looking out the window
moon bright
moon very bright tonight
lights up the lethargic Bayou Lafourche
a glass of red wine
all is right with the world
no . . .
it isn’t
something is different about tonight
something which makes the hairs on my arms
tingle and stand rigid
on the window something gives unto the night
this is a good time to sit and ponder
everything is quiet
no daytime noise
nothing
quiet as that preverbal church mouse
and yet
there is something not right
my mutt makes a keening sound
walks to the door
sniffs . . .
comes back to look imploringly at me
do something, man
she seems to say
and so I do
I rise and close the blinds
and as I do . . .
on the window something gives unto the night

©December 3, 2016 / Jerry Pat Bolton