it's past your bed time

& every house in the world
is lit only by the dim glow
inside the door of the fridge--

how mischievous of us

let's go driving without
headlights--

dark down through 
the corn fields

where the roads lose 
each other-- play tag with
their own corners--

pass the little 
brick school house 
waiting patiently to be rung
like a bell--

do you hear the wind chimes 
becoming material--

the sound of a star brushing
up against it's sibling--

do your constellations 
ever touch?

i'll steal mother's yarn
from the basket at the 
kitchen table--

we'll make necklaces--

the wooden bead
planets-- the pendant moon--

around your neck--

it's past your bedtime 
so anything can happen--

for all god knows 

you are laying-- cheek pressed
to pillow--

did you tuck your body in
before you left?

like a stone dropped 
from the window

crack your geodes
like eggs-- crystals
in the cast iron pan

& town is awake 
only in the alley ways

stretching longer &
longer-- 

you may never emerge--

you may wake up a shadow 

this was your fault
because it is of course
past your bed time--

what will the angels do 
with the dreams you were
supposed to make?

they're disappointed in
us & our rascal bodies--

i like to be disobedient--

make knots in the necks
of street lights--

peel up the double yellow
lines of main street--

woven together to play
cats cradle--

brother this is how
to make the eiffel tower
& the witch's broom--

a hammock in your hands to
sleep in--

but no we're not sleep yet--

we have to stay awake

i don't want to forget you
& all your corn husk hair--

your angular turns--

this gravel road is full
of crystals

they taste like rock candy--

sweetness of stars
for breakfast--

promise me you'll come back 
to the alley when it's done
stretching--

meet me there & spray paint
your name on the dumpster--

black paint--

this is so you won't
forget what i called you
when you find your bedtime--

when you wake up & 
the sun is warm on your face--
planting freckles--

the angels-- displeased--
are coming back to clean 
up our messes with 

soapy dish rags & their
white robes--

they take up each by the hand--

walking us back up noble
street to our house where
the mailbox is open--

climb inside--

i'll come back for
you in the morning

after i read your name

you-- a letter
i could kiss-- lips
envelope sealed--

our bedtimes long overdue