night intermission by William J. Gibson

www.bluetyger.ca

Issue 32 July 2006
contents Copyright © 2006 William J. Gibson

Poems

Night Intermission

William Gibson

I listened to the wind for
something to do
Having counted sheep

the snowmobiles scratched by
the clock said it was 2:37 AM

made me think of the dogs
500 yards out on the ice of the bay
when they took off on me in the morning

my brain telling me they would be all right
my heart and stomach screaming at me to scream

them back to me to safety
the snow blasting in the wind

and me praying there was no current weakness
no pressure crack or ridge
nothing to catch their curiosity
to catch them and kill them

screaming at them as I stumbled through the snow drifts
close to shore

I reach with my hand and feel the girl dog's back
asleep on my bed dreaming of tennis balls

I turn my head and see the black nose of her little brother
his soft brown eyes staring at me

behind him his tail drums on the edge of my bedroom door

my hand reaches for his black nose