Night

This night wanes
as do the streets I impart and depart
leaving the winding path to fade
tassled by my arching shadow
guided by my toes

My reflection too diminishes
a soft notation of what I was at noon
there are no embellishments to be seen
no life to shape these eyes
but what comfort I gain in the meander

there is a collective solace to be felt
when lines are blurred and fragility
is let amuck under lamplight and phantom pedestrians
I am one among them
no labels to be had
no names to be uttered

Time becomes breeze and rattle
with crickets in alleyways,
bicycle paths unscathed and ornamental dwellings
adorning this epic tale
(a redundant palor shapes my face)

It is a common occurance
that only makes sense by the ocean,
the river,
the rain -
innumerable and listless
a panoply of going, coming and gone

I am once again a soldier
the only thing I know.
I pat myself on the back by way of smoke
and my body becomes warm
when I find home

This night wanes as do my legs
in seventy-two steps and one pause
it is a harder breathing
than when I began
and this shadow a mark and demand