On the corner of Brandon and Landon roads

2 am, from my porch

one lone frog is all I hear.

I have seen no possums;

even the Mayor of Moonlight

is avoiding me.

Helicopters come from

the fort’s direction;

fly low over the park

shaking the house.

Where are they going?

Is it necessary to fly

so low at 2 am?

Lonely, ring-tailed calico

looks both ways and

crosses Landon Road.

For a fourth time, a rusty Datsun

circles the block.

Two police cars drive by;

I am not the only person awake.

Blue lights flash at the far side of park.

Wrapped in a blanket,

a man talks like someone

with tourettes into his earpiece.

I hear, “Baby, please…”

as he sits down on a park bench

4 am, I go inside,

lie down and dream of an employee

from forty years ago;

he looks at me, smiles and says

“How’s it going, boss man?”

Birds are singing;

I return to the porch,

man with blanket still sits on bench,

school kids load into buses, neighbors

walk dogs before fleeing to work.

3-13-20