It's Still Life

I.
Walking with Dreams

You hold
your shoes in your hand,
and climb the stairs
for bed.
I tell you,
rest
before you sleep,
because
when dreams
chase country roads,
your feet will tire
before you start,
and even though
this is a dream,
and you know
this is true,
you cannot disguise
bone weariness
or elusiveness of sleep

II.
Night’s Sad Joy

Disguised
in silk and gauze,
Harlequin is moonlight
swinging from the stars. He’s moon-drunk
starlight.

III.
Trap (Revised)

if my prose
speaks in tongues,
are my words
disguised, and

is a trap
a trap
when sprung
without a mouse, and

is it still a teacup when
it’s filled with milk, and
is a clock a clock if
missing its two hands,

and is it always dawn
if I cannot sleep,
and is fear still fear
if without a fright.

and is your disguise
truly real, or not.

PA Day 2: “Disguise”