lonely offices
it is two a.m. mewling
son cribbed next to mama
three older brothers
a short dark hall away
in sleeping bag cocoons
yet to bed papa descends
the boiler begs water
twenty below a puppy
has crept through kitchen
knocked student essays
from desk baiting him
to junky basement
groaning wooden stairs
light switch memories
mold in boxes hang
from pipes spill about
the floor almost clutter
hope almost promise
by dawn their bodies will
disremember shiver
