#256 quarreling with stars

again up before the dawn chimes clatter in the owl light the sad pops and sparkles in the neighbors’ yard last night a cheap eulogy to last year and this one christened by red-eyed boozy kisses planted on the mouths of delirious strangers i have not made the transition yet fidgeting instead under blankets sleepless the night swirling fattening itself on loneliness stingy with dreams quarreling with stars refusing their light like a bully who beats because he knows he’s wrong here i mark out days in a year of my own invention in a ritual of embarrassment and failure broken up by gleaming jewels of radiant light and joy like david stars small glowing and defiant against the dull vast mystery of night the lingering goliath epw 1.1.08 perrysburg, oh