Lullaby

such lullabies we sing

to one another in the lamplight

we cradle, reach and rock, and

the low fullthroated melody sings the wildness

of the moaning winds, cold stars and empty streets,

the nameless shadows of a paling moon,

and then sings hush,

we’re here

and darkness is only a deep-voiced humming

and all that is not us is a murmuring haze

our songs like silhouettes of homing birds across

the dusky sky,

we draw the horizon close with low

warmthroated singing, lips

to your ear whisper, hush, whisper,

murmuring, hush.