awakened at 2 am by a crying baby, no
cat, no, baby, no, cat
below the window, a howling
above the wind’s whine

a freezing night
my bare feet find the floor
and into the dark
pale nightclothes
carry me downstairs
the sharp click of the door
and a white shadow
darts across the yard
into the tall grass
a shooting star

despite my movements
the night air becomes
remains
silent
wind cold in my face

sleep slipped away on four paws