Midnight Minus Thirty-Five

a dark stillness lays on the ground
and as far upwards as one can see;
it is difficult to know just how far
up one can see with no bearings;
a yellow cat sits with me outside
on our screened in porch looking
out into the darkness as well as he
sees what I cannot and our ears
perk up a little as we hear the
distinct sound of rain hitting the
leaves as it falls through our dark
surroundings on its way down;
it lasts but a moment but just long
enough to increase the humidity
of the dark night as the gauge on
the post still registers eighty and
I wonder just how inaccurate it
has become in its old age or it
might just be wishful thinking;

light from a street lamp darts off
in four directions like a cross and
and three perfect circles of softer
light surround the center one as
I adjust my eyes thinking they
may be more tired than my body;
Hercules cannot enter my night's
mythology since Thor and Odin
rescued me first from my bed,
slipping a dream into my head
that only the two of them can
change the course of my thoughts;
our youngest yellow cat is somewhat
of a bully around the other two,
especially if he does not get his way,
still, he does not want to be left
alone at times which is why he has
decided to join me out here even
though his time is spent sleeping;
sitting outside at any time of the day
is a luxury seldom afforded me but
when I find myself outside with
just my thoughts, I tend to write
something down on paper, not
knowing if it will be read or not
and not knowing if it is liked,
yet write away I do as motivated
by the dark rain and the dark sky.

May 27, 2020