a curfew closes
the city. Shadow street cat
watches the moon rise * -- ad

in the distance a siren
wakes up the homeless child -- tlk

a lonely dog howls
at the burning house fire
next door, the clock chimes -- ad

street carolers singing hymns
stop cold--smoke gets in their eyes -- tlk

"Is that all there is?
Is that all there is? If that's
all there is, my friend..."** -- tlk

the passionate dancer dips
down like a beautiful swan -- ad

on another block
the shared prowl of two cats
links old wives' tales -- tlk

the mouse seeks a fine journey
to live his life with romance -- ad

Indian Heaven--
racetrack*** worn by little feet
the sound of Autumn -- tlk

when I was young poetry
appeared on the flood gate walls -- tlk

a canyon of soldiers fight
the desert shield in Iraq
searching for the best -- ad

during class Mr. Swanson
grips the whole globe with one hand -- tlk

the sun rises like
a neverending world
that turns, turns about -- ad

* after azhiac maratos
** after Peggy Lee
*** Indian Heaven "racetrack" in southwest Washington State is so named because its origin and ceremonial purpose is unknown.