Dream Fodder

Divide the flesh, pry skin
from linen wrested from its tuck,
roll back in the swim of sleep.

Unmind the knot between
the shoulders, niggling fist
that kneads the knuckled spine,

wink out the light that slants
through skewed blinds, a door's
click, the hiss of her water.

And down the road some dog's
nagging alarum filtered
through seven or nine houses

becomes a caw. Her knee's return
tilts a sea, the clock's tick
an even keel in cold salt.