The Book of Night

The Book of Night

(for Linda France)

1/1/10

First dark

Last cigarette

The secret visit of snow.

2/1/10

A slow puncture

I exhale

Into the sky.

3/1/10

In the back door

And up the stairs

Two smiles for the price of one.

4/1/10

Over the phone

I miss you orally.

5/1/10

A cat stretches

Catches the nape of night

In a retractable claw.

6/1/10

I held you

Every night

Why did you escape?

7/1/10

Looking for matches

Old flames

Are hidden.

8/1/10

Winter is the coat

I choose to wear.

9/1/10

The Big Issue seller

Fails to recognize

A regular.

10/1/10

Gas ffuffs on the hob

Reminding me of mantles

In ghost caravans.

11/1/10

Do I put my clothes on

Or do my clothes put on me?

12/1/10

Segments of sun

Peeling like a Satsuma

Your summer dress.

13/1/10

Instead of love, sex

Instead of hate, hurt

Instead of hurt, an ending.

14/1/10

Finally after

Trying so hard to be me

Another mask.

15/1/10

Six purple flowers

Ermined by snow.

16/1/10

If we make snow angels together

Will we go to heaven?

17/1/10

I have a cat

Called Angel

And a dog with no name.

18/1/10

A rectangle of light

Changes to a rectangle of night

I saw this happen.

19/1/10

Fifty two,

the weight of candles

is oppressive.

20/1/10

When I think of her

Sadness overwhelms me.

21/1/10

The radio plays some forgotten song

Sentiment ignites the ether.

22/1/10

Night terrors

Erased by sun

And croissant

23/1/10

Two cigarettes

An old car

With flooded choke

24/1/10

Hands shake

Holding on to stillness.

25/1/10

Seeded back lawn

Thin green knives

26/1/10

I measure my cell

Forget the equation

For sleep.

27/1/10

Your lips

On a monitor

Increase my pulse.

28/1/10

You on a swing

Kicking stars

Into comets.

29/1/10

Miss the first cigarette with you

And the second

And the third

30/1/10

When love is dead

Wash the sheets

Make the bed.

31/1/10

Always keep

Enough tablets

To remind you of life.