Night Watches

Running in and out of rooms

during the night watches

Unforeseen sleep-walking

as I glance at the clock

A little alka-seltzer

and I grab a pen to jot

thinking thot

My fingers stiff

during night watches

where I recall

yesteryears

while thinking in darkness

of the new day

about to dawn

I reach for Marley

and rouse him and

he gets to work

licking his fur

I roll over
and find a new, comfortable recline

Only in this darkness

do I ever step outside

into Aunt Mabel’s backyard

I hear the traffic

and smell summer

My father sits inside the kitchen

with coffee

as mom and Mabel

go at it

And I wander in the grass

smelling the roses

along the side fence

I think more thoughts

running into rooms of present, future and past

I look at the clock

roll over and

once again

Marley is asleep

__________