#256 quarreling with stars
again up before the dawn\nchimes clatter in the owl light\nthe sad pops and sparkles in\nthe neighbors\u2019 yard last night\na cheap eulogy to last year and\nthis one christened by red-eyed\nboozy kisses planted on the\nmouths of delirious strangers\n\ni have not made the transition\nyet fidgeting instead under\nblankets sleepless the night\nswirling fattening itself on\nloneliness stingy with dreams\nquarreling with stars refusing\ntheir light like a bully who beats\nbecause he knows he\u2019s wrong\n\nhere i mark out days in a year\nof my own invention in a ritual\nof embarrassment and failure\nbroken up by gleaming jewels\nof radiant light and joy like david\nstars small glowing and defiant\nagainst the dull vast mystery\nof night the lingering goliath\n\nepw 1.1.08 perrysburg, oh