Across Boundaries*

The shadows lengthen with the maturing day, the sun creeps across the courtyard. The birds, noting this, are terrified of the oncoming dark and flee back home. The sun’s decease terrorizes the moon into the clouds. Darkness gathers. The light of the hurricane lamp flickers in the tumultuous wind. Somewhere I hear a dismal sigh that turns on the other side — so far, so far behind.