Night Watch

Relaxing, 
                    everything secured,
knotted, damped down.
               The evening
                           shut down
                       save for some freckled shawls
defying the sucking winds.

Beating against half-open panes
             they hang
                        from poles,
                                   played loose
         sliding to ground;
they nestle
amongst curtain tails.

          Billowing muslin
               my shelter in night's watch
and I remembering
           these shawls once shouldering
                            a blue spotted gown;
                                        which, unstitched
                                     now draps
                            the library table
                          adding pizzaz.


Blackrock  2002