Ariella

17

In these distinct hours of the night,
when the lonely cars that sigh, gasp like beasts down the road
cast tinkling light patterns
in flitting, whirling star swarms
across the late-drenched bedroom walls,
It feels as if this is not a time for breathing or whispers
but only for listening intently to mumbling rain
and crinkling cicadas until
finally joined by sleep.