7

when you finally hear

voices

when they rouse you from dreams

at midnight

calling

“hello-o-o”

like some kind of alley ghost

or simply an old person

from the home across the way

a neighbor

feeling forgotten

and abandoned

you will sit up in bed

strain your ears to hear them

calling

“hello-o-o”

your comfy blankets

will no longer warm you

your pillow no longer

support your dreaming head

silence

vibrates with murmuring

and voices in the night

call continually

“hello-o-o”