in the dark
winter has come with its relief
the cold foggy banks in morning
blowing the square forest
free
the rains washing the grit
the soot of dreams
that would grey up a
happiest cloud

and xmas lights are on the
confectionary
and wide windows full of
xmas wonder
like the snows from the Atlantic
landing on wool caps and felt
brims...empty heads for the
daring
those that want too look up

In the hallways with worn runners
and terrazio..etchings and numbers
the phone hanging on the wall
a living current lift the reciever
the ocean is carried in some nights
like the old sea ghosts
then
the phone
in my hand
put a finger in the heavy
cast chrome change reciever
that jingles when the
pushed button is thumbed
silver....
unlike now
warm
the worlds composite and harder
perhaps better
a brass key unlocks the deadbolts
steps known in the dark
like sleepwalking
turn the television on
the glow while the white dot
expands
the tubes
the heat..warm hands in morning
the black leads screwed in to the
vhf with crescent clips
and bakelite or plastic..chrome
telescopic later but then solid
extensions like feelers
feeling the analog waves
pulsing through

each night the routine
chunka chunka through the channels
the pale tiger eye glow
the snap of the volume and on
button...the crackle of setting the
volume
Tuning...
look outside the wind sways the
ornaments
the lights sparkle
the sky is torn throwing its drowned
lights back
the flourescent to the kitchen vivid
the roachs hide
the rounded fridge..the glass milk
bottle
the brown meat from the butcher
the cast iron frying pan
or later the radio...
for shortwave
fall asleep in the textile and hardwood
of the easy chair
quiet on the way up...garlic and basil
fish...pork chops...olive oil..dark roast
coffee and bacon...cigarettes
the stale smell of a building raising a
length of generations
like a warren
the ears pull it in
comforting the glow
flickering
the hassock
the world melds with the
world melding plots
on themes
and then the dreams
melding plots
of lives
and schemes
...