Just before Bed

Late one night walking across my lawn, I pitched

a large pinecone back at the trees and startled

some sleeping birds. Out of the branches they came

flapping, chirping with fright, then flew away

into the dark disquieted world, deranged as bats

at noon. There's nothing more to this, only the old

discomfort of wondering how to be acquainted with

the night without disturbing its peace. And where

does one go to nest again, or (perchance) to dream?

TRUST

Trust that there is a tiger, muscular

Tasmanian, and sly, which has never been

seen and never will be seen by any human

eye. Trust that thirty thousand sword-

fish will never near a ship, that far

from cameras or cars elephant herds live

long elephant lives. Believe that bees

by the billions find unidentified flowers

on unmapped marshes and mountains. Safe

in caves of contentment, bears sleep.

Through vast canyons, horses run while slowly

snakes stretch beyond their skins in the sun.