At nine fifteen we put on our coats and ventured out.

It was cool that late, but I didn't notice.

We walked back to our daytime haunt

So desperate to see what it looked like in another light.

Along the way we burned off fierce threatening energy;

It has to be emptied before you can really sleep.

So we talked about the guy who may or may not be married

But who certainly wants her,

And I complained of your maddening incomprehensibility.

We lamented the one who pushes us all away,

Favoring one of them instead,

Doesn't she still need our society? Apparently not.

And what's life going to be like next year?

It was starless, and ill-lit,

But we were invincible,

as long as we kept to better lit paths.

If there are still goddesses,

We might be them.

The flat darkness of the pond startled me

I thought there'd be more light.

The swans were invisible.

I'm never going there again at night.

There are just some things easier to face during the day.

-srw